Glossary of Terms
Baleen: a filter feeding system made up of strips or “plates” inside the mouths of baleen whales
Blowholes: two “holes” in the top of a whale’s head used for breathing air
Blubber: the fat of a whale
Breach: an action in a which a whale propels most of its body out of the water
Calf: a baby whale
Callosities: white patch markings on the heads of while whales. Each right whale has its own specific callosity marking.
Flippers: forelimbs to help whales swim and move underwater
Flukes: the tails of a whale
Mammal: an animal that has live births and babies are nourished by their mothers’ milk
Plates: strips of baleen
Pod: a large group of whales
Solitary: being alone