If you’ve managed to go to the Whales|Tohorā exhibition here at Te Papa then you’ll have come across the pieces of baleen.
Some whales have teeth – others have baleen. Baleen sort of looks like bristley paintbrushes hanging down either side in a whale’s mouth. It acts like a big sieve or tea strainer. Baleen whales scoop tiny organisms like krill and copepods in mouthfuls along with sea water. They force the sea water out of their mouths through the baleen leaving the prey behind.
The whales then use a combination of their tongues, sucking action and possibly some rinsing with sea water to dislodge the prey from the baleen (its hairy on the inside and the prey gets caught) before swallowing.
The colouration of the baleen depends on the type of whale it is – the blue whale’s is almost black.
Our pygmy right whale’s baleen is creamy white on the inside, dark grey on the outside with a stripe of creamy white along the top. Its beautiful.
7 May 2008 at 10:43 am
Will the baleen stay this colour over time? Most examples I’ve seen in museums have been grayish but I’ve never seen one from a pygmy whale. Also, any idea how old this animal is?
Lynne
7 May 2008 at 10:54 am
Hi Lynne
I’ve just checked you out seeing as your last name coincided with Dr Cath Kemper’s – she’s all good!
Prof Fordyce thinks that the baleen will retain its colour over time, probably fading a bit. Its gorgeous isn’t it!
As for age – they say that he’s under six months.
30 May 2008 at 10:26 am
hey your site is helpful too me great job keep up the great work to keep your site going ok bye.
30 May 2008 at 10:30 am
hey your site was helpful cause i am reseaching right whales it is helpful ok.
30 May 2008 at 3:45 pm
Hi Haley and Tyler
thank you for your comments – we’re glad that people are still coming across our blogs and still finding them helpful! Pass the word around