What different kinds of whales are there?

Water Animals

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by Kate Simmons >> more about the author

Orca whales, fin whales, gray whales… The majestic creatures we call whales sure are grand! There are more than 80 species of whales in the world, but these species fall into two main groups: Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales.

Baleen whales, such as blue whales and humpback whales, are named for the baleen that fills their mouths. Baleen, which is made of keratin (like your fingernails), helps these animals to filter their food. Whales in this group simply open their mouths when they want to catch other sea creatures, but you can imagine that taking a gulp of sea water lets the sea in as well as the fish! As these whales let the water out, the baleen that hangs like plates from their upper jaws helps keep the food in. Dinner, anyone?

Toothed whales are fast-moving hunters that eat meat. They swallow much of their food whole but can use their teeth to tear the flesh of large prey if necessary. Because they actively hunt, they are speedy swimmers, and their smaller body size allows them to zip through the water at a faster rate than their Baleen whale friends! Toothed whales include dolphins, beluga whales and porpoises! Did you know that dolphins are a type of whale?!

Though whales live in the water, they are mammals, not fish. Fish have scales, gills and fins, and most lay eggs. Whales have fins, but true to their mammal grouping, they are scale-free, and they breathe air with their lungs. They give birth to live young (rather than laying eggs), and they feed their babies milk. Though they don’t have fur, they do have hair on their bodies.