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If you think a hamster can fit a lot in its mouth think again! 'Rorqual

whales' (such as Minke whales and Blue whales) have folds of skin or 'throat

groves' which expand when they lunge feed (- this is when they takes large

gulps of water to catch food.) Once the whale has it's mouth full of prey and

water and it's throat pleats are balooned out, it uses it's giant tongue to force

water back out of it's mouth. The water is forced past the whales specially

designed baleen plates. These act like a seive to catch the prey inside the

whales mouth. A Blue whale can eat 4 tonnes of Krill (small shrimp-like

creatures) every day when feeding conditions are good. It has up to 68 pleats

in its throat allowing it's mouth to expand to giant proportions!

 

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