Rorqual whales are baleen whales that are relatively streamlined in appearance and have pointed heads and small pointed fins. They can be distinguished from other whales by many (25-90) deep groves along their throats that expand when they feed. There are 8 species of rorqual whales and they are the largest animals in the world:
- Antarctic minke (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
- Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
- Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei)
- Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni)
- Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
- Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
- Common minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
- Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
Rorquals take their name from French rorqual, which derives from the Norwegian word røyrkval, meaning “furrow whale.”
-TSF-
