Balene

Balene, commonly known as whales, are a diverse group of large marine mammals belonging to the order Cetacea. They are divided into two main suborders: baleen whales (Mysticeti), which filter-feed using keratin baleen plates, and toothed whales (Odontoceti), which hunt with teeth and use echolocation. Baleen whales breathe through two blowholes, while toothed whales use a single blowhole.

Notable baleen whales include the blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, along with the fin whale, humpback whale, gray whale, and several species of right whales. Notable toothed whales include the sperm whale, the orca (killer whale), and many species of dolphins and beaked whales.

Balene inhabit oceans worldwide, from polar to tropical waters, and many populations undertake long seasonal migrations between feeding and breeding grounds. They have streamlined bodies adapted to aquatic life, and vocalizations ranging from songs in some baleen species to complex echolocation clicks in odontocetes.

Diet varies by group: baleen whales feed by filtering small prey such as krill and plankton from seawater; toothed whales hunt fish, squid, and occasionally other marine mammals, using teeth and echolocation.

Conservation: whaling historically reduced many populations. A moratorium on commercial whaling was adopted by the International Whaling Commission in 1986, though some nations continue hunting under exemptions. Today, threats include entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, pollution, and climate change. Many species are protected, with conservation status ranging from least concern to critically endangered.