Fin whale  (Balaenoptera physalus)

Baleen: In some whales, the comb-like fibrous plates hanging from the upper jaw that are used to sieve food from sea water. These are often referred to as whalebone.
Cetaceans: A group comprising all whale species; therefore including dolphins and porpoises.
Crustaceans: Diverse group of arthropods (a phylum of animals with jointed limbs and a hard chitinous exoskeleton) characterised by the possession of two pairs of antennae, one pair of mandibles (parts of the mouthparts used for handling and processing food) and two pairs of maxillae (appendages used in eating, which are located behind the mandibles). Includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, slaters, woodlice and barnacles.
Dorsal fin: The unpaired fin found on the back of the body of fish, or the raised structure on the back of most cetaceans.
Gestation: The state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth.
Plankton: Aquatic organisms that drift with water movements; may be either phytoplankton (plants), or zooplankton (animals).
Rorqual: Derives from the Norwegian word meaning ‘furrow whale', and refers to the folds or grooves of skin below the mouth that are a characteristic feature of the Baleanopteridae family of whales.
Subspecies: A population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

1. IUCN Red List (June, 2008)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
   
2. Macdonald, D. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
   
3. CITES (June, 2008)
   http://www.cites.org
   
4. Animal Diversity Web (February, 2002)
   http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/balaenoptera/b._physalus.html
   
5. O'Corry-Crowe, G.M. (2002) Beluga whale. In: Perrin, W.F., Würsig, B. and Thewissen, J.G.M. Eds. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press, London.
   
6. Carwardine, M. (1995) Whales, dolphins and porpoises. Dorling Kindersley, London.
   
7. MarineBio.org (June, 2008)
   http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=40
   
8. Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (June, 2008)
   http://www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk/whales_dolphins/fin-whale.asp
   
9. Pesante, G., Zanardelli, M. and Panigada, S. (2000) Evidence of man-made injuries on Mediterranean fin whales. European Research on Cetaceans, 14: 192 - 193.
   
10. Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (February, 2002)
    http://www.wdcs.org/
    
11. International Whaling Commission (June, 2008)
    http://www.iwcoffice.org/