LeDuc, R. G.; Dizon, A. E.; Goto, M.; Pastene, L. A.; Kato, H.; Nishiwaki, S.; LeDuc, C. A.; Brownell, R. L. (2023). "Patterns of genetic variation in Southern Hemisphere blue whales, and the use of assignment test to detect mixing on the feeding grounds". Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. 9: 73–80. doi: 10.47536/jcrm.v9i1.694. S2CID 257136658. Cooke JG (2018a). " Balaenoptera borealis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018a. e.T2475A130482064. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T2475A130482064.en. |date= / |doi= mismatch Hutchinson, G. E. (1961). "The Paradox of the Plankton". The American Naturalist. 95 (882): 137–145. doi: 10.1086/282171. S2CID 86353285. Cooke JG (2019) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. " Balaenoptera musculus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018. e.T2477A156923585. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T2477A156923585.en. Which countries are still whaling". International Fund for Animal Welfare . Retrieved 29 August 2015.

The olfactory lobes are absent in toothed whales, suggesting that they have no sense of smell. Some whales, such as the bowhead whale, possess a vomeronasal organ, which does mean that they can "sniff out" krill. [53]Watching out for whales: Reducing risks when ships and whales share the seas". wwf.panda.org. WWF . Retrieved 6 September 2021. Spilliaert, R.; Vikingsson, G.; Arnason, U.; Palsdottir, A.; Sigurjonsson, J.; Arnason, A. (1991). "Species hybridization between a female blue whale ( Balaenoptera rnusctllus) and a male fin whale ("B.pbysalus"): Molecular and morphological documentation". Journal of Heredity. 82 (4): 269–274. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a111085. PMID 1679066.

Kennedy, Robert; Perrin, W.F.; Wursig, B.; Thewissen, J. G. M. (2008). "Right whales ( E. glacialis, E. japonica, and E. australis". Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. ISBN 978-0-12-373553-9. Watson, K. K.; Jones, T. K.; Allman, J. M. (2006). "Dendritic architecture of the Von Economo neurons". Neuroscience. 141 (3): 1107–1112. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.04.084. PMID 16797136. S2CID 7745280.

Conservation

Jefferson, T.A.; Leatherwood, S.; Webber, M.A. "Narwhal and White Whale (Family Monodontidae)". Marine Species Identification Portal . Retrieved 29 August 2015.

Baleen whales have no teeth; instead, they have plates of baleen, fringe-like structures that enable them to expel the huge mouthfuls of water they take in while retaining the krill and plankton they feed on. Because their heads are enormous—making up as much as 40% of their total body mass—and they have throat pleats that enable them to expand their mouths, they are able to take huge quantities of water into their mouth at a time. Baleen whales also have a well-developed sense of smell. Palumbi, S. R.; Cipriano, F. (1998). "Species identification using genetic tools: the value of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences in whale conservation". Journal of Heredity. 89 (5): 459–464. doi: 10.1093/jhered/89.5.459. PMID 9768497.Whales are adapted for diving to great depths. In addition to their streamlined bodies, they can slow their heart rate to conserve oxygen; blood is rerouted from tissue tolerant of water pressure to the heart and brain among other organs; haemoglobin and myoglobin store oxygen in body tissue; and they have twice the concentration of myoglobin than haemoglobin. Before going on long dives, many whales exhibit a behaviour known as sounding; they stay close to the surface for a series of short, shallow dives while building their oxygen reserves, and then make a sounding dive. [13] [44] Senses Biosonar by cetaceans Sperm whale skeleton. Richard Lydekker, 1894. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) whaling database reports 88 individuals longer than 30 meters (98ft), including one of 33 meters (108ft), but problems with how the measurements were taken suggest that any longer than 30.5 meters (100ft) are suspect. [41] The Discovery Committee reported lengths up to 31 meters (102ft); [42] however, the longest scientifically measured individual blue whale was 30 meters (98ft) from rostrum tip to tail notch. [43] Female blue whales are larger than males. [11] [44] Hydrodynamic models suggest a blue whale could not exceed 108ft (33m) because of metabolic and energy constraints. [45] Blue whale". Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023 . Retrieved 3 March 2023. a b c Árnason, U.; Lammers, F.; Kumar, V.; Nilsson, M. A.; Janke, A. (2018). "Whole-genome sequencing of the blue whale and other rorquals finds signatures for introgressive gene flow". Science Advances. 4 (4): eaap9873. Bibcode: 2018SciA....4.9873A. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aap9873. PMC 5884691. PMID 29632892. The IWC has designated two whale sanctuaries: the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, and the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Southern Ocean whale sanctuary spans 30,560,860 square kilometres (11,799,610sqmi) and envelopes Antarctica. [109] The Indian Ocean whale sanctuary takes up all of the Indian Ocean south of 55°S. [110] The IWC is a voluntary organization, with no treaty. Any nation may leave as they wish; the IWC cannot enforce any law it makes.