Whale Tales from Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga: Short video by our staff

Whale Terminology

Baleen - keratin plates that have replaced teeth and aid in the filter feeding.

Pectoral Fin - side fin

Dorsal Fin- single fin on the back of the whale, can be used in aiding identification.

Blow - exhaled breath

Blowhole - nostrils located on top of the head. Baleen whales have two, toothed whales have one.

Tubercule - nodules found on the rostrum and front side of the pectoral fin. The tubercules contain a single hair.

Rostrum - top of the whales head.

Caudal peduncle - behind the doral fin, is the area that is arched as the whale dives.

Fluke - tail, the underside is used in identifying individual whales.

Ventral pleats - found in some species of baleen whales, these pleats expand as their mouths fill with water during feeding.