Balaenopteridae

/ˌbæl.i.nɒp.təˈraɪ.diː/ noun

Definition

The taxonomic family of rorqual whales, which includes the largest baleen whales like blue whales and fin whales.

Etymology

From Balaenoptera (the genus) plus the scientific family suffix '-idae'. This classification formally groups all rorqual whales together.

Kelly Says

Rorquals are the acrobats of the whale world—they can do barrel rolls and breach dramatically—and they're found in every ocean on Earth, from the Arctic to the Antarctic!

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