1. Belong to the same order: Both toothed and baleen whales belong to the order Cetacea, which includes all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. This means they share a common ancestor and have many similar characteristics.
2. Warm-blooded: Both types of whales are warm-blooded, meaning they maintain a constant internal body temperature. This allows them to thrive in a wide range of environments, including cold ocean waters.
3. Aquatic mammals: Both toothed and baleen whales are mammals, meaning they breathe air, give birth to live young, and nurse their offspring. They are adapted for an aquatic lifestyle with streamlined bodies, flippers, and a blowhole for breathing.
4. Social animals: Both types of whales are often highly social animals, living in groups or pods. They communicate with each other through vocalizations and other forms of body language.
5. Diverse species: Both toothed and baleen whales encompass a wide diversity of species, with varying sizes, shapes, and habitats.
6. Evolved from terrestrial ancestors: Both toothed and baleen whales evolved from land mammals over millions of years. This shared evolutionary history explains their similar anatomical features, such as their bone structure and respiratory systems.
7. Endangered by human activities: Both types of whales are vulnerable to various threats from human activities, including pollution, habitat destruction, and entanglement in fishing gear.
In summary, while toothed and baleen whales differ in their feeding mechanisms, they share fundamental characteristics that place them within the same order and highlight their common ancestry and adaptations for life in the ocean.