Balaenidae

E60012

Balaenidae is a family of large baleen whales that includes the right whales, characterized by massive heads, arched jaws, and the absence of a dorsal fin.


Statements (43)

Predicate Object
instanceOf taxonomic family
whale family
bodySize large
buoyancyAdaptation thick blubber layer
characteristic absence of dorsal fin
large baleen whales
long baleen plates
massive heads
strongly arched upper jaws
class Mammalia
commonName right whales and relatives
conservationConcern several species endangered
diet copepods
krill
zooplankton
distinguishingFeature callosities on head in right whales
highly arched rostrum
lack of dorsal fin
distribution Northern Hemisphere oceans
Southern Hemisphere oceans
feedingMode filter feeding
habitat cold temperate and polar oceans
hasBaleen true
hasTeeth false
historicallyTargetedFor commercial whaling
includes Balaena
Eubalaena
includesCommonName bowhead whale
right whales
kingdom Animalia
migrationPattern some species highly migratory
namedAfter Latin balaena (whale)
order Cetacea
phylum Chordata
recognizedAs family of right and bowhead whales
reproduction viviparous
skeletalFeature robust skull
socialBehavior generally solitary or small groups
soundProduction low-frequency vocalizations
suborder Mysticeti
swimmingSpeed relatively slow
tailShape broad flukes
taxonRank family

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Eubalaena australis family Balaenidae
southern right whale family Balaenidae