Any of several usually large whales of the suborder Mysticeti, having a symmetrical skull, two blowholes, and whalebone plates instead of teeth are known as?

The term that describes large whales of the suborder Mysticeti, characterized by a symmetrical skull, two blowholes, and the presence of baleen plates instead of teeth, is "baleen whale." This classification encompasses several species, including gray whales and humpback whales, but the defining traits of having baleen plates and the particular anatomical features apply to all baleen whales collectively.

Baleen whales filter feed through their baleen plates, which allows them to consume large amounts of small prey like krill and plankton. Their two blowholes, located above the eyes, enable them to take in air more efficiently than species with only one blowhole. This reproductive and feeding mechanism is a significant evolution that distinguishes them from toothed whales, such as the killer whale, which belong to a different suborder known as Odontoceti. Understanding these distinctions helps highlight the diversity within whale species and their adaptations to marine environments.