Balaenopteridae

Rorquals, the largest group of baleen whales in the family Balaenopteridae, include nine extant species, such as the blue whale, which can weigh up to 180 tonnes, and the fin whale at 120 tonnes. The smallest, the northern minke whale, weighs around 9 tonnes.

The name “rorqual” comes from the French and refers to their unique throat grooves that enable significant mouth expansion for feeding. These whales have elongated flippers and a dorsal fin located two-thirds down their bodies.

Rorquals primarily feed by gulping water and filtering it through baleen plates, consuming crustaceans like krill and various fish. They have a gestation period of 11–12 months, typically giving birth to one calf, which is weaned after 6–12 months. Some species, such as humpback whales, form social pods.

Found in all major oceans, rorquals include species like the gray whale, concentrated in the northern Pacific, and Rice’s whale, endemic to the Gulf of Mexico. Most are oceanic, but some, like the gray whale and Eden’s whale, are found close to shore. Rorquals migrate to polar regions for feeding during summer, while breeding occurs in tropical waters during winter.

They primarily feed using lunge-feeding, a significant biomechanical event where they accelerate and open their mouths wide to capture prey. Gray whales use suction feeding near the seabed. Rorquals have specialized adaptations, such as throat pleats and flexible nerves, for this feeding method.