The six different species of whale known as rorquals are one family of [G 01 / baleen] whales. The name comes from the old Norse word 'rorhval,' meaning 'grooved whale.' This refers to the pleats in the whale's throat which helps the throat expand so the whale can take in large amounts of water when feeding.
The rorqual whales are the blue, Bryde's, the [I 008 / fin], the humpback, the minke and the sei.
