UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
How many teeth do whales have?
Question Date: 2011-09-08
Answer 1:

The number of teeth in whales (known scientifically as cetaceans) varies a lot between species. Some have as many as 250 teeth, while the members of any entire family, the baleen whales lack teeth entirely.


Answer 2:

This varies from one whale to another: baleen whales I'm not sure have teeth, or if they do then they are very heavily modified. Toothed whales probably have varying numbers of teeth - I'll bet a sperm whale has more than a dolphin, but I don't actually know the numbers.



Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use