A newsletter reader just asked the great question, "what are the main differences between baleen whales and toothed whales?" All 80-plus species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are categorized into two groups, the toothed whales and baleen whales, based on how they feed.
Baleen whales are generally larger animals, in fact the largest animal in the world, the blue whale, is in this group. They filter feed on small fish and plankton using their baleen plates. In contrast, toothed whales are active predators, usually moving in pods to find prey, which they grasp with their teeth and swallow whole.
Other than these obvious differences, there are several others, some of which may surprise you. Read the article "What Are the Differences Between Baleen and Toothed Whales?" to find out the rest of the answer, including how many blowholes each type of whale has!
Image: The bristly inside edge of fin whale baleen plates. Courtesy Blue Ocean Society.
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