Rorqual

Anim1754 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library

Anim1076 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library

Rorqual Cladogram

Plesiobalaenoptera hubachi

Incakujira anilliodefuego

Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. They include some of the largest whales, such as the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the largest animal known to have ever existed. Rorquals are characterized by their long, slender bodies, pleated throats which can expand to take in large volumes of water when feeding, and a dorsal fin. They are found in all the world's oceans, from the Arctic and Antarctic to the tropics.

Characteristics

Rorquals have several distinctive characteristics that set them apart from other whales. Their most notable feature is the series of longitudinal pleats or grooves on their throats, extending from beneath the lower jaw to the navel. These grooves allow their throat to expand during the massive intake of water during their filter-feeding process. They have a streamlined body shape, a small head in comparison to body size, and a broad, flat rostrum. Rorquals feed by lunging into dense schools of fish or krill, expanding their mouths and throats to take in water and prey. They then push the water out through their baleen plates with their tongue, trapping the food inside to be swallowed.

Species

The rorqual family includes several species, among them:

• The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the largest animal on the planet.
• The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the second-largest whale species.
• The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), known for its complex songs and acrobatics.
• The minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), the smallest of the rorqual whales.
• The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), known for its speed and long, sleek body.
• The Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei), a whale of tropical and subtropical waters.
• The Eden's whale (Balaenoptera edeni), closely related to Bryde's whale.
• The Omura's whale (Balaenoptera omurai), a recently recognized species, smaller and found in tropical and subtropical waters.

Habitat and Distribution

Rorquals inhabit a wide range of ocean environments, from the ice edges of the Arctic and Antarctic to tropical seas. They are migratory, generally moving from high-latitude feeding areas in the summer to lower-latitude breeding areas in the winter. Their distribution is global, but specific ranges vary by species. For example, the blue whale and fin whale are found in all the world's oceans, while the humpback whale has a more specific migration pattern, traveling from summer feeding grounds near the poles to winter breeding grounds near the equator.

Feeding

Rorquals primarily feed on small schooling fish, krill, and other small marine organisms. They are lunge feeders, a method that involves accelerating towards a school of prey and engulfing it in their expanded mouth and throat. This feeding technique is energy-intensive but allows them to take in a large amount of prey at once.

Conservation

Many rorqual species have been severely impacted by commercial whaling, leading to significant declines in their populations. While commercial whaling has largely ceased, rorquals face ongoing threats from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and the impacts of climate change on their ocean habitats. Conservation efforts are in place for several species, with international protections and research focused on understanding and mitigating the threats they face.

This marine mammal related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.