Baleen whales have bristles made of keratin instead of teeth. The bristles filter krill and other small invertebrates from seawater. Grey whales feed on bottom-dwelling mollusks. Rorqual family (balaenopterids) use throat pleats to expand their mouths to take in food and sieve out the water. Balaenids (right whales and bowhead whales) have massive heads that can make up 40% of their body mass. Most mysticetes prefer the food-rich colder waters of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, migrating to the Equator to give birth. During this process, they are capable of fasting for several months, relying on their fat reserves.
baLEEn WhaLEs HAve BristLeS made of keraTin insTEad oF teETh. the bristLeS filter kriLL And otHer smalL INvertebrAteS froM seAwatEr. Grey WhALEs FEed on bottom-DweLlinG mOLlusks. rorqUAl FAmily (balaEnoptErIDs) Use tHrOat pleats to expANd thEIR .MoutHS to tAkE In food aNd SievE oUT tHE WAtER. bAlAEniDs (rIGht whaLes anD bowheAd WHAles) hAve mASsive heads thAt caN makE Up 40% of theIR body mass most MYSTiceteS PrefER tHe FOod-rIch cOlDEr WateRs of the northern aNd soutHErN hEmIspheres, miGraTinG TO the eQuatOr to GIve Birth. during thIs ProcESs, they Are capable OF fastiNg FOr sevERaL mONths, RElYinG oN tHeIr fAt rEseRVES.