Rorquals

With nine species, rorquals are the largest family of baleen whales. They feed by gulping large quantities of water and straining crustaceans and through short, broad baleen plates. Rorquals range from the , the largest animal to have ever lived, to the relatively small nine tonne minke whale. All rorqual whales have deep longitudinal grooves in the skin running from the throat to the chest. Populations were reduced by whaling to the extent that most species are now fully protected. They are usually seen in of between two and five individuals. Rorqual whales are distributed worldwide and, with a couple of exceptions, live in the .

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Rorqual

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