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Baleen Whales?

a.Sei Whale
b.Omura's Whale
c.Blue Whale
d.North Atlantic Right Whale
e.Humpback Whale
f.Gray Whale
g.Bowhead Whale
h.Pygmy Right Whale
i.Minke Whale
j.Fin Whale
k.Bryde's Whale
l.Killer Whale
m.Beaked Whale
n.Long-Finned Pilot Whale
o.Sperm Whale
p.False Killer Whale
q.Beluga Whale

User Kaplan
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The question addresses Baleen Whales, a subset of cetaceans, which include species such as the Blue Whale, the Sei Whale, and the Humpback Whale, among others. They are distinguished by their baleen plates used for filter feeding. Other listed cetaceans, like the Killer Whale and Sperm Whale, do not have baleen plates and are not baleen whales.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to Baleen Whales, which are a group of cetaceans known for their unique feeding mechanism that involves filter feeding with baleen plates instead of teeth. Among the listed options, Sei Whale, Omura's Whale, Blue Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, Humpback Whale, Gray Whale, Bowhead Whale, Pygmy Right Whale, and Minke Whale, Fin Whale, Bryde's Whale are all species of baleen whales. The Blue Whale is notably the largest living vertebrate, reaching lengths of up to 110 feet. The remaining options, including Killer Whale, Beaked Whale, Long-finned Pilot Whale, Sperm Whale, False Killer Whale, Beluga Whale, and others, are not classified as baleen whales, as they do not possess baleen plates.

Baleen plates are fringed structures that allow these whales to filter feed by sieving small fish and krill from the water. This adaptation, along with other changes, is indicative of the whales' evolution from land-dwelling creatures to those that live and reproduce in the ocean. The distinction between baleen whales and other cetaceans is significant when discussing their natural history, conservation status, and ecological roles in oceanic biodiversity.

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