The Family Balaenidae includes the right whales and bowhead whales, large baleen whales known for their slow movements and distinctive, arched mouths adapted for filter-feeding. Members of this family have baleen plates instead of teeth, which they use to strain plankton and small invertebrates from seawater. Balaenids are characterized by robust bodies, long baleen plates, and lack of a dorsal fin, and they typically inhabit temperate to polar waters. Many species in this family are endangered or vulnerable due to historic whaling and current threats from ship strikes and entanglement, making them important targets for marine conservation efforts.