Whales are divided into 2 sub-orders , Mysticeti  (baleen whales ) and Odontoceti ( toothwhales )Mysticeti roughly translates from latin  to Mustache - Whale .

Because to the ancient Greeks , the whales seem to have Mustaches .

However these mustaches are inside the mouth , hanging down from the upper jaw where the teeth would normally be and is called Baleen .

Baleen is made of Keratin , the same stuff your finger nails are made of and can vary in color and size depending on the species of whale . A bowhead whale can have baleen as long as 14 ft .

The Baleen hangs down from the upper jaw in a series of over lapping plates ( 150 - 300 per side ). The outside edge is smooth , the inner side is fibrous , frayed at the edges .

Baleen acts like a filter . When a whale feeds , it opens it`s mouth and takes in large amounts of water and food  ( krill , shrimp , fish) in the case of the Gray Whale , mud too.

Then partly closes it`s mouth and pushes the water back into the sea through it`s Baleen plates which traps the food .

It then collects the food from the Baleen with it`s tongue and swallows the food.

Baleen was known  as Whalebone to the whalers . It was used for various things such as watch-springs , umbrellas , toys , corset and dress stays  , it was the Plastic of the18 th and 19 th centuries.

Most Baleen whales have throat grooves or pleats , which allows the skin on the lower jaw to expand , allowing the whale to take in great amounts of food and water during feeding.

The other major difference between the 2 sub-orders of whales is  Baleen whales  have 2 blowholes , where as the Tooth whales only have 1 .

Baleen whales are found world wide , they vary in size from the 100 ft Blue Whale ( the largest animal ever ) to the Pygmy Right Whale under 20 ft .

There are 10 species of Baleen whales   :

BLUE  WHALE FIN  WHALE SEI  WHALE BRYDE`S  WHALE BOWHEAD  WHALE RIGHT  WHALE PYGMY RIGHT  WHALE HUMPBACK  WHALE GRAY  WHALE MINKE WHALE