Orbital glands are found in many tetrapod vertebrates, and are usually separate structures, consisting of individual glands lying in the eyelids and both canthi of the orbit. In cetaceans, however, the orbital glandular units are less distinct and…
The external acoustic meatus (EAM) of most baleen whales accumulates cellular debris annually in the lumen as whales age, forming a lamellated ear plug. The bowhead whale ear plug is formed from annually molting lining of the EAM as the entire…
The evolution of baleen constituted a major evolutionary change that made it possible for baleen whales to reach enormous body sizes while filter feeding on tiny organisms and migrating over tremendous distances. Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus)…
The external auditory meatus (EAM) in many species of mysticete whales is filled with a waxy ear plug. Though this lamellated structure is often used to age a whale, its formation and development remain undescribed. It is thought that growth layer…
In utero, baleen whales initiate the development of several dozens of teeth in upper and lower jaws. These tooth germs reach the bell stage and are sometimes mineralized, but toward the end of prenatal life they are resorbed and no trace remains…
With the increase of human activity and corresponding increase in anthropogenic sounds in marine waters of the Arctic, it is necessary to understand its effect on the hearing of marine wildlife. We have conducted a baseline study on the spiral…
