FAQ About Ocean Life

The purpose of a whale's baleen is to filter and capture food from the water. Baleen is a specialized structure found in some species of whales, including baleen whales (also known as mysticetes). Here's how baleen functions:

• Structure: Baleen consists of long, narrow plates made of keratin, the same material found in human hair and nails. These plates are flexible and fringed, forming a curtain-like structure that hangs from the upper jaw of the whale.
• Feeding Mechanism: Baleen whales are filter feeders, meaning they feed by straining small organisms, such as krill and small fish, from the water. When a baleen whale feeds, it takes in a large amount of water along with its prey.
• Filtration Process: As the whale closes its mouth, it presses its tongue against the baleen plates, creating a sieve-like structure. The baleen acts as a filter, allowing water to escape while trapping the prey organisms against the fringed edges.
• Swallowing Prey: After filtering the water, the whale uses its tongue to push the trapped prey against the baleen, removing excess water. The whale then swallows the captured food, such as krill or small fish, which get trapped in the baleen's bristles.
• Baleen Maintenance: Baleen grows continuously throughout a whale's life, with older, worn-out sections gradually fraying and being replaced by new growth. This allows the baleen to remain effective in capturing prey over the whale's lifespan.