Baleen is a fibrous substance made from keratin and it is used by some whales for filtering food from water. Baleen grows in the form of plates with frayed edges, which hang from the whale's upper jaw. The baleen plates trap food which the whale then swallows.

The word baleen is derived from the Latin balaena, which means whale. The order Cetacea is split into two suborders; Baleen Whales (Mysticeti) and Toothed Whales (Odontoceti). The Blue Whale is a baleen whale and it is the largest living animal.

Associated terms: Whalebone

Also see:
Keratin