rorqual

/ˈrɔrkwəl/

Other forms: rorquals

Definitions of rorqual

1. noun

   any of several baleen whales of the family Balaenopteridae having longitudinal grooves on the throat and a small pointed dorsal fin
   synonyms: razorback

   types:

   Balaenoptera physalus, common rorqual, fin whale, finback, finback whale

   large flat-headed whalebone whale having deep furrows along the throat; of Atlantic and Pacific

   Balaenoptera borealis, sei whale

   similar to but smaller than the finback whale

   Balaenoptera acutorostrata, lesser rorqual, minke whale, piked whale

   small finback of coastal waters of Atlantic and Pacific

   type of:

   baleen whale, whalebone whale

   whale with plates of whalebone along the upper jaw for filtering plankton from the water