Baleen whales are filter feeders, meaning they have baleen plates in their mouths instead of teeth. These plates are made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails. Baleen whales use their baleen to filter small organisms from the water, such as krill, plankton, and small fish.
Toothed whales have teeth and use them to hunt and capture prey.
Size Comparison:
* Largest Baleen Whale: Blue whale (up to 100 feet long and 200 tons)
* Largest Toothed Whale: Sperm whale (up to 67 feet long and 57 tons)
Examples of Baleen Whales:
* Blue whale
* Fin whale
* Humpback whale
* Right whale
Examples of Toothed Whales:
* Sperm whale
* Orca (killer whale)
* Dolphin
* Porpoise
Conclusion:
Baleen whales are significantly larger than toothed whales, with the blue whale being the largest animal on Earth. This size difference is largely attributed to the different feeding strategies of the two groups. Baleen whales need to consume massive amounts of small organisms, which requires a larger body size to accommodate the filtering process.