Baleen Baleen Baleen is a filter-feeder system inside the mouths of baleen whales. The baleen system works by a whale opening its mouth underwater and taking in water. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as food source for the whale. Baleen is similar to bristles and consists of keratin, the same substance found in human fingernails and hair. Baleen is a skin derivative. Some whales, such as the bowhead whale, have longer baleen than others. Other whales, such as the gray whale, only use one side of their
Killer whales in popular culture and dolphins. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves, and even adult whales. Killer whales are apex predators, as there is no animal which preys on them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAaHUg0wSzo "Documentary in 2014". BAFTA.org. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved February 27, 2017. Killer whales in popular culture Killer whales have appeared in several movies and many documentaries. Creatures by the name of "orca" or "orc" have appeared throughout the history of Western literature. In Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem "Orlando Furioso", the "orca" (sometimes translated "orc") was a sea-monster from whom the damsel Angelica was rescued by Orlando.