Baleen Whales Louis Ruspi BIO109 April 13, 2011 BIO109 April 13, 2011

How Baleen Evolved Aetiocetus MMP20 (ename-lysin) CHR-2 SINE Tooth buds present in fetal stages

Baleen Keratin Keratin Fine or Coarse Fine or Coarse

Food Sources Krill Copepods Squid Sand lance Zooplankton Fish

Classification Kingdom: Animalia Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Veterebrata Subphylum: Veterebrata Class: Mammalia Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Order: Cetacea Suborder: Mysticeti Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenidae, Balaenopteridae, Eschrichtidae, and Neobalaenidae Family: Balaenidae, Balaenopteridae, Eschrichtidae, and Neobalaenidae

Family: Balaenidae Bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus Bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus Northern right whale Eubalaena glacialis Northern right whale Eubalaena glacialis Southern right whale Eubalaena australis Southern right whale Eubalaena australis

Bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus The only baleen whale to spend all its time in Arctic waters The only baleen whale to spend all its time in Arctic waters 17,000 in existence 17,000 in existence Skim feeders Skim feeders

Northern right whale Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic and North Pacific North Atlantic and North Pacific Callosities on top of head and lower jaw. Callosities on top of head and lower jaw. Skim feeders Skim feeders Population 500-1,000 Population 500-1,000 in existence

Southern right whale Eubalaena australis Approx. 3,000 in existence Approx. 3,000 in existence Skim Feeders Skim Feeders

Family: Balaenopteridae Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae

Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Second smallest Baleen whale Second smallest Baleen whale The most abundant of baleen whales The most abundant of baleen whales Gulp feeders Gulp feeders 800,000 minke whales world-wide 800,000 minke whales world-wide

Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni 90, ,000 whales worldwide 90, ,000 whales worldwide Gulp feeders Rostral Ridges

Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis Third largest whale Third largest whale population about 80,000 population about 80,000 Gulp feeders and skim feeders Gulp feeders and skim feeders Single Rostral ridge Single Rostral ridge

Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Second largest Baleen whale Ventral Jaw characteristics 50, ,000 world wide Gulp feeders

Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus Largest mammal Largest mammal Population 12,000-15,000 world wide Population 12,000-15,000 world wide Gestation Gestation

Humpback Whale 80,000 humpback whales worldwide 80,000 humpback whales worldwide Complex whale song Complex whale song Gulp feeders Gulp feeders

Family: Eschrichtidae gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) Dorsal Hump Dorsal Hump Benthic feeders Benthic feeders population size of 76,000–118,000 individuals population size of 76,000–118,000 individuals

Family: Neobalaenidae pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) Population and feeding habits unknown Population and feeding habits unknown

Sources Reeves, Randall. Stewart, Brent. Clapham, Phillip. Powell, James. Guide to Marine Mammals of the world. New York: Knpof, Alfred SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Baleen Whales. Sea World/Busch Gardens Animals. animals.org/. Apr 12, 2011http:// animals.org/ Pseudogenization of the tooth gene enamelysin (MMP20) in the common ancestor of extant baleen whales. Aug 31, 2010 Meredith, Robert. Apr 12, 2011.

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