Baleen -Whale Anatomy - EnchantedLearning.com

Advertisement.

EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site.
As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.
Click here to learn more.

(Already a member? Click here.)

EnchantedLearning.com
ALL ABOUT WHALES!

What is a Whale?

Whale Information Sheets

Anatomy and Behavior

Extreme Whales

Whale Myths

Whale Evolution

Whale Classification

Whale Glossary

Whale Activities

Whale Index

WHALE ANATOMY AND BEHAVIOR

General Anatomy

Size

Pods

The Senses

Baleen

Reproduction

Diet

Flukes

Sleep

Offense/
Defense

Blowhole

Baleen
Baleen is a sieve-like device that Mysticeti (baleen whales) use to obtain nourishment (krill, plankton, and other small organisms). Baleen is a series of stiff, flexible material that hang from the upper jaw. The inside of the baleen is edged with hairy plates that filter krill. Baleen is made of keratin (the same substance our fingernails and hair are made of). Baleen grows throughout a whale's life. The ends of a whales baleen are always wearing out.

Baleen is also called whalebone and used to be used as a plastic-like material.

WHALE	NUMBER OF BALEEN PLATES	SIZE OF BALEEN	COLOR OF BALEEN
Blue whale	320 pairs	39 inches long (1 m), 21 inches wide (53 cm), and weigh 200 pounds (90 kg)	black baleen plates with dark gray bristles
Bowhead whale	350 pairs	175.5 inches (4.5 m) long and 14 inches (36 cm) wide - very fine textured	silver-colored
Gray whale	160 pairs	15 inches long and 10 inches wide- very thick	gray with yellowish bristles
Humpback whale	330 pairs	25 inches (0.6 m) long and 13.5 inches (34 cm) wide	dark gray baleen plates with coarse gray bristles hanging
Minke whale	300 pairs	less than 12 inches (30 cm) long and 5 inches (13 cm) wide - fine textured	creamy-white with pure white bristles
Right whales	200-270 pairs	up to 9.5 feet (3 m) long	gray-black to white bristles

Enchanted Learning^®
Over 35,000 Web Pages
Sample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below

Overview of Site
What's New
Enchanted Learning Home
Monthly Activity Calendar
Books to Print
Site Index

K-3
Crafts
K-3 Themes
Little Explorers
Picture dictionary
PreK/K Activities
Rebus Rhymes
Stories

Writing
Cloze Activities
Essay Topics
Newspaper
Writing Activities
Parts of Speech

Fiction
The Test of Time

Biology
Animal Printouts
Biology Label Printouts
Biomes
Birds
Butterflies
Dinosaurs
Food Chain
Human Anatomy
Mammals
Plants
Rainforests
Sharks
Whales

Physical Sciences: K-12
Astronomy
The Earth
Geology
Hurricanes
Landforms
Oceans
Tsunami
Volcano

Languages
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese (Romaji)
Portuguese
Spanish
Swedish

Geography/History
Explorers
Flags
Geography
Inventors
US History

Other Topics
Art and Artists
Calendars
College Finder
Crafts
Graphic Organizers
Label Me! Printouts
Math
Music
Word Wheels

Click to read our Privacy Policy

E-mail Busy Little Brains
CD-ROM

Enchanted Learning Search

Search the Enchanted Learning website for:

Advertisement.

Advertisement.