Baleen whales, including humpback whales, have a unique feeding method that differentiates them from other types of whales. They do not have teeth, instead they have baleen plates in their mouths that they use to collect their food from the sea.
These plates filter, sift, sieve or trap the prey of the whale inside their mouth. This adaptation allows these whales to efficiently filter large amounts of seawater to obtain their food.
The Food Source of Humpback Whales
Humpback whales feed on a variety of small sea creatures such as shrimp-like krill, plankton, and small fish. These creatures form a significant part of the diet of baleen whales. They are known to filter large amounts of seawater to obtain their food.
Humpbacks will also take planktonic organisms such as copepods, euphausiids and salps when these are abundant. This opportunistic feeding style lets them shift between prey types as conditions change through the season.
The Structure of Baleen Plates
Baleen plates are made of keratin, the same protein that is found in human hair and nails. These plates are bristly in nature and are located in the upper jaw of the whale. The baleen of the bowhead whale is particularly long and can reach up to 4 meters in length.
Baleen plates come in different sizes depending on their location on the jaw. The plates at the front of the mouth are generally smaller in size, while those towards the back of the mouth are larger. This gradation in size allows for efficient filtering of water and the capture of a wide range of prey.
Final Thoughts
So, to wrap up: humpback whales, like all baleen whales, have no teeth. In their place they carry baleen plates, a specialised structure that sits along the upper jaw and is made of the same keratin found in our hair and nails. Looking at how these plates work alongside humpback feeding habits is a neat reminder of just how varied marine life can be.
