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Whalebone Whales
This family includes all of the true whales or toothless whales, as they are variously called, and the only large "whale" not included here is the sperm whale which is really more closely allied to the porpoises and dolphins. The whales are characterized by their immense size, enormous head, and total absence of teeth. Small teeth are, it is true, formed very early in their development, but they are entirely absorbed before birth.