Family Balaenidae -Right and Bowhead Whales (3 species in 2 genera)
The right and bowhead whales are large and chunky, with heads that comprise up to one-third of their body length. They lack a dorsal fin or any trace of a dorsal ridge. Overall, they tend to be far less streamlined than other baleen whales. Right and bowhead whales have developed a relatively passive skim-feeding technique, and tend to be slower than other whales. The baleen plates are the longest and have the finest fringes of the 4 mysticete families. Viewed in profile, the mouthline is extremely arched and the skull profile is highly convex; all 7 neck vertebrae are fused together.
Genera
Genus Balaena containing 1 species:
Balaena mysticetus (Bowhead whale)
Genus Eubalaena containing 2 species:
Eubalaena australis (Southern right whale)
Eubalaena glacialis (Northern right whale)