baleen
Cetacean mouth bristles
Baleen is the flexible, comb-like material that hangs from the upper jaws of certain large whales, filtering small prey like krill and plankton from seawater.
These whales—including humpbacks, blue whales, and right whales—are called baleen whales to distinguish them from toothed whales.
The material consists of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails, and was once harvested commercially for use in corsets, umbrella ribs, and other items requiring flexible stiffness.
Small marine crustaceans
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- copepodsMinute aquatic crustaceans
- sievingFiltering through mesh
straining · gulping · engulfing · filter-feeding · skimming · prey · foraging · swallowing
Boned foundation garment craft
- hoopskirtsCage-framed petticoats for volume
- VictorianOf a prim era
- scrimshawEngraved whale ivory art
- staysRemains in place
busks · parasol · umbrella · crinolines · bodice · fashion · antique · artifact
Structural hair protein
- bristlesCoarse animal hairs
- platesFlat eating dishes
- fringesOuter edges or tassels
- combToothed grooming implement
flexible · structure · gumline · rows · fibrous · hairy · laminae · triangular
Baleen whale species
At risk of extinction
- protectionGuarding against harm
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
sanctuary · recovery · moratorium · hunting · overharvesting · populations · monitoring · quotas
krill
Small marine crustaceans
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- copepodsMinute aquatic crustaceans
sieving · straining · gulping · engulfing · filter-feeding · skimming · prey · foraging · swallowing · intake
corsetry
Boned foundation garment craft
- hoopskirtsCage-framed petticoats for volume
- VictorianOf a prim era
- scrimshawEngraved whale ivory art
stays · busks · parasol · umbrella · crinolines · bodice · fashion · antique · artifact · craftsmanship
keratin
Structural hair protein
comb · flexible · structure · gumline · rows · fibrous · hairy · laminae · triangular · rigid
humpback
Baleen whale species
migration · breaching · singing · flukes · blowhole · calf · pod
endangered
At risk of extinction
- protectionGuarding against harm
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
extinction · sanctuary · recovery · moratorium · hunting · overharvesting · populations · monitoring · quotas · sustainable
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- animal adaptationscamouflage, webbed feet, filter feeding, thick fur, blubber
- animal featuresbeaks, scales, antlers, fur, ears
- teethteeth, incisors, incisor, canine, canines
- aquatic adaptationsgills, fins, swim bladder, flippers, webbed feet
- Baleen Whalesblue whale, humpback whale, right whale, fin whale, gray whale
baleenwhale teeth
Marine mammal's mouth bones
teeth · toothed · toothed whale · fangs · tusks
- baleen whalesBristle-mouthed marine mammals