Mammal
Blue Whale
The largest animal that has ever lived
Filter feeders
19 species whose profiles list a filter feeder diet — ranked by popularity, each with an answer-first guide.
Quick answer
Filter feeders strain tiny food — plankton, krill, or suspended particles — from water. Baleen whales, many sharks and rays, flamingos, and countless invertebrates use sieves, baleen plates, or specialised gills. Despite eating microscopic prey, some filter feeders are the largest animals on Earth.
How we group by diet
Facets are built from structured Diet facts on each species page — not from a separate taxonomy dump. Open any card for habitat, range, and IUCN status in one place. Also browse by habitat or biome hubs.
Mammal
Leopard Seal
Antarctica's apex predator
Bird
Emperor Penguin
The largest penguin, built for the Antarctic winter
Bird
Flamingo
The pink filter-feeder that stands on one leg
Mammal
Humpback Whale
The acrobatic singer of the seas
Mammal
Fin Whale
The sleek greyhound of the seas
Fish
Basking Shark
Second-largest fish; gentle plankton feeder
Invertebrate
Jellyfish
The ancient, brainless drifter of the seas
Mammal
Minke Whale
The smallest and most abundant rorqual
Fish
Oarfish
World's longest bony fish
Fish
Whale Shark
The largest fish in the world
Fish
Megamouth Shark
Deep-sea filter ghost discovered in 1976
Invertebrate
Feather Star
Filter-feeding crinoid that walks on cirri
Invertebrate
Brittle Star
Arm-dropping filter feeder of Atlantic gravel
Invertebrate
Moon Jellyfish
Glass-disc drifter of harbours worldwide
Fish
Manta Ray
The gentle giant that flies through the sea
Invertebrate
Coral
The tiny reef-building animals of tropical seas
Invertebrate
Hermit Crab
The crustacean that wears borrowed shells
Invertebrate
Giant Clam
The reef-dwelling giant of the mollusks
Frequently asked questions
What are filter feeders?
Filter feeders strain tiny food — plankton, krill, or suspended particles — from water. Baleen whales, many sharks and rays, flamingos, and countless invertebrates use sieves, baleen plates, or specialised gills. Despite eating microscopic prey, some filter feeders are the largest animals on Earth.
How many filter feeders are in the Global Animal Guide?
The guide currently features 19 filter feeders with answer-first profiles covering diet, habitat, size, and conservation status.
How do you decide an animal's diet category?
Diet facets are derived from each species' Diet fact on its profile (for example Carnivore, Herbivore, or more detailed notes). An animal can appear in more than one facet when its diet spans categories, such as omnivores that also eat insects.