Whale - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

Cetaceans are divided into two suborders:

• The largest suborder, Mysticeti (baleen whales), is characterized by baleen, a sieve-like structure in the upper jaw made of keratin, which it uses to filter plankton from the water.
• Odontoceti (toothed whales) bear sharp teeth for hunting. Odontoceti includes dolphins and porpoises.

Both cetaceans and artiodactyl are now classified under the super-order Cetartiodactyla, which includes both whales and hippopotamuses. Whales are the hippopotamus's closest living relatives.