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Skeleton of a right whale from Weber, 1928. B indicates bones of pelvis and thigh. |
The suborder Mysticeti includes the baleen whales, such as right whales, blue whales, and humpback whales. These whales lack teeth, and instead have a curtain of baleen hanging down from their upper jaw. Baleen is a hair or horn-like substance which forms a sieve which is used to filter water. Baleen whales are known for their long wailing songs which carry hundreds of miles. They include the largest animal ever living on earth, the blue whale. Many species of mysticetes have been driven to near extinction by whalers. Recent international treaties have been somewhat successful in saving these species, although some are still quite rare (balaenids). The oldest mysticetes are about 40 million years old and are derived from Eocene Cetaceans.
TWO BALEEN WHALES, NOT TO SCALE
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Right Whale Balaena glacialis Length up to 58 feet ( 18 meters) Weight up to 100 tons (90,000 kg) |
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Blue Whale |
All pictures on Dr. Thewissen's pages are public access, although the source must be identified in publication.
Ambulocetidae
| Basilosaurids and
Dorudontids | Bibliography | Hearing
| India |
Locomotion | Mysticetes
| Odontocetes | Osmoregulation
| Pakicetidae |
Pakistan | Protocetidae
| Remingtonocetidae | Whale
| Whale Origins!