Toothed whale
Encyclopedia
The toothed whale
s (systematic name
Odontoceti) form a suborder of the cetaceans, including sperm whale
s, beaked whale
s, dolphin
s, and others. As the name suggests, the suborder is characterized by the presence of teeth rather than the baleen
of other whales.
on the top of the head (while the baleen whales possess two of them). The nostril
s are not fused; one of them has become dominant over the other.
As an adaptation for their echolocation
, toothed whale skulls have become asymmetric. Their brains are relatively big, although real growth didn't occur before their echolocation started to evolve. Toothed whales' brains have a poor connection between the two hemispheres and an organ called a melon on their heads is used as a lens to focus sound waves. Vocal cords are not present; their sounds are produced in the blowhole system instead. Toothed whales have lost their sense of smell, as well as their saliva glands.
Except for the Sperm Whale
, most toothed whales are smaller than the baleen whale
s. The teeth differ considerably between the species. They may be numerous, with some dolphin
s bearing over 100 teeth in their jaws. At the other extreme are the Narwhal
with its single long tusk and the almost toothless beaked whales with bizarre teeth only in males.
Not all species are believed to use their teeth for feeding. For instance, the Sperm Whale likely uses its teeth for aggression and showmanship.
. Sperm whales use low frequencies (a few to perhaps 50 Hz), while others employ more narrow-band high-frequency sounds (porpoises, Cephalorhynchus
species like Hector's dolphin
). Most dolphin species use very broad band clicks.
s can be frequently encountered this way. They are also famous for their acrobatic breaching from the water, e.g. the Spinner Dolphin
.
Keeping small whales (mostly Bottlenose Dolphin
s, Orca
s, or Belugas) in captivity
is a great attraction for ocean parks and zoos. However, it is controversial because of the marine mammals' need for large spaces.
The sperm whale
has been hunted commercially for a long time (see whaling
). While small whales like the Pilot Whale
today are still being pursued, the main threat for most species is accidental capture in fishing net
s.
Currently there is no international convention that gives universal coverage to all small whales, although the International Whaling Commission
has attempted to extend its jurisdiction over them. ASCOBANS
was negotiated to protect all small whales in the North and Baltic Seas and in the northeast Atlantic. ACCOBAMS
protects all whales in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The global UNEP Convention on Migratory Species currently covers seven toothed whale species or populations on its Appendix I and 37 species or populations on Appendix II. All whales (great and small) are listed in CITES Appendices, meaning that international trade in them and products derived from them is very limited.
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
s (systematic name
Systematic name
A systematic name is a name given in a systematic way to one unique group, organism, object or chemical substance, out of a specific population or collection...
Odontoceti) form a suborder of the cetaceans, including sperm whale
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter...
s, beaked whale
Beaked whale
Beaked whales are 21 species of toothed whales, members of the family Ziphiidae, are notable for their elongated beaks. Beaked whales are one of the world's most extreme divers. They can dive for long periods—20 to 30 minutes is common, and 85 minute dives have been recorded—and to...
s, dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s, and others. As the name suggests, the suborder is characterized by the presence of teeth rather than the baleen
Baleen
Baleen or whalebone is a filter-feeder system inside the mouths of baleen whales. The baleen system works when a whale opens its mouth underwater and then water pours into the whale's mouth. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as food...
of other whales.
Anatomy
Toothed whales have a single blowholeBlowhole (biology)
In biology, a blowhole is the hole at the top of a cetacean's head through which the animal breathes air. It is homologous with the nostril of other mammals. As whales reach the water surface to breathe, they will forcefully expel air through the blowhole. Not only is air expelled, but mucus and...
on the top of the head (while the baleen whales possess two of them). The nostril
Nostril
A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. In birds and mammals, they contain branched bones or cartilages called turbinates, whose function is to warm air on inhalation and remove moisture on exhalation...
s are not fused; one of them has become dominant over the other.
As an adaptation for their echolocation
Animal echolocation
Echolocation, also called biosonar, is the biological sonar used by several kinds of animals.Echolocating animals emit calls out to the environment and listen to the echoes of those calls that return from various objects near them. They use these echoes to locate and identify the objects...
, toothed whale skulls have become asymmetric. Their brains are relatively big, although real growth didn't occur before their echolocation started to evolve. Toothed whales' brains have a poor connection between the two hemispheres and an organ called a melon on their heads is used as a lens to focus sound waves. Vocal cords are not present; their sounds are produced in the blowhole system instead. Toothed whales have lost their sense of smell, as well as their saliva glands.
Except for the Sperm Whale
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter...
, most toothed whales are smaller than the baleen whale
Baleen whale
The Baleen whales, also called whalebone whales or great whales, form the Mysticeti, one of two suborders of the Cetacea . Baleen whales are characterized by having baleen plates for filtering food from water, rather than having teeth. This distinguishes them from the other suborder of cetaceans,...
s. The teeth differ considerably between the species. They may be numerous, with some dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s bearing over 100 teeth in their jaws. At the other extreme are the Narwhal
Narwhal
The narwhal, Monodon monoceros, is a medium-sized toothed whale that lives year-round in the Arctic. One of two living species of whale in the Monodontidae family, along with the beluga whale, the narwhal males are distinguished by a characteristic long, straight, helical tusk extending from their...
with its single long tusk and the almost toothless beaked whales with bizarre teeth only in males.
Not all species are believed to use their teeth for feeding. For instance, the Sperm Whale likely uses its teeth for aggression and showmanship.
Vocalizations
Vocalizations are of great importance to toothed whales. While many species also maintain a broad variety of calls to communicate, all species investigated so far use short click sounds for purposes of echolocationAnimal echolocation
Echolocation, also called biosonar, is the biological sonar used by several kinds of animals.Echolocating animals emit calls out to the environment and listen to the echoes of those calls that return from various objects near them. They use these echoes to locate and identify the objects...
. Sperm whales use low frequencies (a few to perhaps 50 Hz), while others employ more narrow-band high-frequency sounds (porpoises, Cephalorhynchus
Cephalorhynchus
Cephalorhynchus is a genus in the dolphin family Delphinidae. It consists of four species:*Commerson's Dolphin, Cephalorhyncus commersonii*Chilean Dolphin, Cephalorhyncus eutropia*Heaviside's Dolphin, Cephalorhyncus heavisidii...
species like Hector's dolphin
Hector's Dolphin
Hector's dolphin is the best-known of the four dolphins in the genus Cephalorhynchus and is found only in New Zealand. At about 1.4 m in length, it is one of the smallest cetaceans....
). Most dolphin species use very broad band clicks.
Movement
Most toothed whales swim rapidly. The smaller species occasionally ride waves, such as the bow waves of ships. DolphinDolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s can be frequently encountered this way. They are also famous for their acrobatic breaching from the water, e.g. the Spinner Dolphin
Spinner Dolphin
The Spinner Dolphin is a small dolphin found in off-shore tropical waters around the world. It is famous for its acrobatic displays in which they spin longitudinally along their axis as they leap through the air.-Taxonomy:...
.
Human impact
Small whales are beset by a variety of anthropogenic threats including hunting, bycatch (entanglement in fishing gear), competition with fisheries, ship strikes, tourism (whale watching and "dolphin-assisted" therapy), live capture for display and research, habitat loss and degradation, industrial and military operations, chemical pollution, disease and biotoxins (e.g., from dinoflagellates) ozone depletion and climate change.Keeping small whales (mostly Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
s, Orca
Orca
The killer whale , commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas...
s, or Belugas) in captivity
Captivity
Captivity or Captive may refer to:*Imprisonment or hostage, the state of being confined to a space from which it is difficult or impossible to escape**Captive company...
is a great attraction for ocean parks and zoos. However, it is controversial because of the marine mammals' need for large spaces.
The sperm whale
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter...
has been hunted commercially for a long time (see whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
). While small whales like the Pilot Whale
Pilot whale
Pilot whales are cetaceans belonging to the genus Globicephala. There are two extant species, the long-finned pilot whale and the short-finned pilot whale . The two are not readily distinguished at sea and analysis of the skulls is the best way to tell the difference between them...
today are still being pursued, the main threat for most species is accidental capture in fishing net
Fishing net
A fishing net or fishnet is a net that is used for fishing. Fishing nets are meshes usually formed by knotting a relatively thin thread. Modern nets are usually made of artificial polyamides like nylon, although nets of organic polyamides such as wool or silk thread were common until recently and...
s.
Currently there is no international convention that gives universal coverage to all small whales, although the International Whaling Commission
International Whaling Commission
The International Whaling Commission is an international body set up by the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling , which was signed in Washington, D.C...
has attempted to extend its jurisdiction over them. ASCOBANS
ASCOBANS
ASCOBANS is a regional agreement on the protection of small cetaceans that was concluded as the “Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas” under the auspices of the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species, or Bonn Convention, in September 1991 and came into force...
was negotiated to protect all small whales in the North and Baltic Seas and in the northeast Atlantic. ACCOBAMS
ACCOBAMS
ACCOBAMS, the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea,Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area is ‘a cooperative tool for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean and Black Seas’....
protects all whales in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The global UNEP Convention on Migratory Species currently covers seven toothed whale species or populations on its Appendix I and 37 species or populations on Appendix II. All whales (great and small) are listed in CITES Appendices, meaning that international trade in them and products derived from them is very limited.
Taxonomy
- ORDER CETACEACetaceaThe order Cetacea includes the marine mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal", was more general. It comes from Ancient Greek , meaning "whale" or "any huge fish or sea...
- Suborder Odontoceti: toothed whales
- Superfamily DelphinoideaDelphinoideaDelphinoidea is the largest group of toothed whales with 66 genera in 6 families. The largest living member of the superfamily is the killer whale, which can reach 6 tonnes, while the smallest, Commerson's Dolphin, is also the smallest living cetacean....
- Family Delphinidae: oceanic dolphinDolphinDolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s- Subfamily Delphininae
- Genus Delphinus
- Short-beaked Common DolphinShort-beaked Common DolphinThe short-beaked common dolphin is a species of common dolphin. It has a larger range than the long-beaked common dolphin , occurring throughout warm-temperate and tropical oceans, with the possible exception of the Indian Ocean...
, Delphinus delphis - Long-beaked Common DolphinLong-beaked Common DolphinThe Long-beaked Common Dolphin is a species of common dolphin. It has a more restricted range than the Short-beaked Common Dolphin . It has a disjointed range in coastal areas in tropical and warmer temperate oceans...
, Delphinus capensis - (Arabian Common Dolphin, Delphinus tropicalis)
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin
- Genus Lagenodelphis
- Fraser's DolphinFraser's DolphinFraser's Dolphin or Sarawak Dolphin is a cetacean in the family Delphinidae found in deep waters in the Pacific Ocean and to a lesser extent in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.-Taxonomy:...
, Lagenodelphis hosei
- Fraser's Dolphin
- Genus Sousa
- Atlantic Humpback Dolphin, Sousa teuszi
- Indian Humpback Dolphin, Sousa plumbea
- Chinese White DolphinChinese White DolphinThe Chinese white dolphin is a humpback dolphin species, one of eighty cetacean species. An adult is white or pink and may appear as an albino dolphin to some. Uniquely, the population along the Chinese coast has pink skin. Pink skin is not pigment, but blood vessels for thermoregulation...
, Sousa chinensis
- Genus StenellaStenellaStenella is a genus of aquatic mammals in Delphinidae, the family informally known as the oceanic dolphins.Currently five species are recognised in this genus:*Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, S. attenuata*Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, S. frontalis...
(syn. Clymenia, Micropia, Fretidelphis, Prodelphinus)- Pantropical Spotted DolphinPantropical Spotted DolphinThe Pantropical Spotted Dolphin is a species of dolphin found in all the world's temperate and tropical oceans. The species was beginning to come under threat due to the killing of millions of individuals in tuna purse seines...
, Stenella attenuata - Atlantic Spotted DolphinAtlantic Spotted DolphinThe Atlantic Spotted Dolphin is a dolphin found in the Gulf Stream of the North Atlantic Ocean. Older members of the species have a very distinctive spotted coloration all over their body.-Taxonomy:...
, Stenella frontalis - Spinner DolphinSpinner DolphinThe Spinner Dolphin is a small dolphin found in off-shore tropical waters around the world. It is famous for its acrobatic displays in which they spin longitudinally along their axis as they leap through the air.-Taxonomy:...
, Stenella longirostris - Clymene DolphinClymene DolphinThe Clymene dolphin , in older texts known as the Short-snouted spinner dolphin, is a dolphin endemic to the Atlantic Ocean.- Taxonomy :...
, Stenella clymene - Striped DolphinStriped DolphinThe Striped Dolphin is an extensively studied dolphin that is found in temperate and tropical waters of all the world's oceans.-Taxonomy:...
, Stenella coeruleoalba
- Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
- Genus Tursiops
- Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
, Tursiops truncatus - Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops aduncus
- Bottlenose Dolphin
- Genus Delphinus
- Subfamily Lissodelphininae
- Genus CephalorhynchusCephalorhynchusCephalorhynchus is a genus in the dolphin family Delphinidae. It consists of four species:*Commerson's Dolphin, Cephalorhyncus commersonii*Chilean Dolphin, Cephalorhyncus eutropia*Heaviside's Dolphin, Cephalorhyncus heavisidii...
(syn. Eutropia)- Commerson's DolphinCommerson's DolphinCommerson's Dolphin is one of four dolphins in the Cephalorhynchus genus. The species has also the common names Skunk Dolphin, Piebald Dolphin and Panda Dolphin...
, Cephalorhynchus commersonii - Chilean DolphinChilean DolphinThe Chilean Dolphin , also known as the Black Dolphin, is one of four dolphins in the Cephalorhynchus genus. The dolphin is only found off the coast of Chile, it is commonly referred to in the country as Tunina....
, Cephalorhynchus eutropia - Heaviside's DolphinHeaviside's DolphinThe Haviside's Dolphin , or mistakenly the Heaviside's Dolphin, is a small dolphin that is found off the coast of Namibia and the west coast of South Africa...
, Cephalorhynchus heavisidii - Hector's DolphinHector's DolphinHector's dolphin is the best-known of the four dolphins in the genus Cephalorhynchus and is found only in New Zealand. At about 1.4 m in length, it is one of the smallest cetaceans....
, Cephalorhynchus hectori
- Commerson's Dolphin
- Genus Lissodelphis (syn. Tursio, Leucorhamphus)
- Northern Right Whale DolphinNorthern Right Whale DolphinThe Northern right whale dolphin is a small and slender species of marine mammal found in the North Pacific Ocean. The Northern right whale dolphin travels in groups of up to 2000, often with other cetaceans, in deep waters of the North Pacific...
, Lissodelphis borealis - Southern Right Whale DolphinSouthern Right Whale DolphinThe southern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis peronii, is a small and slender species of mammal found in cool waters of the southern hemisphere...
, Lissodelphis peronii
- Northern Right Whale Dolphin
- Genus Cephalorhynchus
- Subfamily Orcininae
- Genus Feresa
- Pygmy Killer WhalePygmy Killer WhaleThe pygmy killer whale is a small, rarely seen cetacean of the oceanic dolphin family . It derives its common name from sharing some physical characteristics with the orca It is the smallest species that has "whale" in its common name. In fact, "killer" may be more apt in the case of the pygmy...
, Feresa attenuata
- Pygmy Killer Whale
- Genus Globicephala (syn. Sphaerocephalus, Globiceps, Globicephalus)
- Long-finned Pilot WhaleLong-finned Pilot WhaleThe long-finned pilot whale is one of the two species of cetacean in the genus Globicephala. It belongs to the oceanic dolphin family , though its behavior is closer to that of the larger whales.-Description:...
, Globicephala melas - Short-finned Pilot WhaleShort-finned Pilot WhaleThe Short-finned Pilot Whale is one of the two species of cetacean in the genus Globicephala. It is part of the oceanic dolphin family , though its behaviour is closer to that of the larger whales....
, Globicephala macrorhyncus
- Long-finned Pilot Whale
- Genus Grampus (syn. Grampidelphis, Grayius)
- Risso's DolphinRisso's DolphinRisso's dolphin is the only species of dolphin in the genus Grampus.-Taxonomy:Risso's dolphin is named after Antoine Risso, whose description formed the basis of the first public description of the animal, by Georges Cuvier, in 1812...
, Grampus griseus
- Risso's Dolphin
- Genus OrcaellaOrcaellaThe snubfin dolphins are a genus of dolphins containing two members: the Irrawaddy Dolphin and Australian Snubfin Dolphin. The genus was long believed to be monotypic with the only species being the Irrawaddy Dolphin; however, in 2005, genetic analysis showed that the Australian Snubfin Dolphin is...
- Irrawaddy DolphinIrrawaddy dolphinThe Irrawaddy dolphin is a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in discontinuous subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia.-Etymology and taxonomic history:...
, Orcaella brevirostris - Australian Snubfin DolphinAustralian Snubfin DolphinThe Australian snubfin dolphin is a dolphin found off the northern coasts of Australia. It closely resembles the Irrawaddy dolphin and was not described as a separate species until 2005. The Australian snubfin is tri-coloured, while the Irrawaddy dolphin only has two colours on its skin...
, Orcaella heinsohni
- Irrawaddy Dolphin
- Genus Orcinus (syn. Orca, Ophysia, Gladiator)
- OrcaOrcaThe killer whale , commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas...
(Killer Whale), Orcinus orca
- Orca
- Genus Peponocephala
- Melon-headed WhaleMelon-headed WhaleThe melon-headed whale is a cetacean of the oceanic dolphin family . It is closely related to the pygmy killer whale and pilot whale, and collectively these dolphin species are known by the common name blackfish. It is also related to the false killer whale...
, Peponocephala electra
- Melon-headed Whale
- Genus †PlatalearostrumBlunt-snouted dolphinBlunt-snouted dolphin is a prehistoric pilot whale known from a single specimen , consisting of a partial rostrum, partial maxilla, partial premaxilla, and partial vomer...
(blunt-snouted dolphin)- †Hoekman's Blunt-snouted Dolphin, Platalearostrum hoekmani
- Genus Pseudorca (syn. Neorca)
- False Killer WhaleFalse Killer WhaleThe False Killer Whale is a cetacean, and the third largest member of the oceanic dolphin family . It lives in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. As its name implies, the False Killer Whale shares characteristics, such as appearance, with the more widely known Orca...
, Pseudorca crassidens
- False Killer Whale
- Genus Feresa
- Subfamily Stenoninae
- Genus SotaliaSotalia (genus)The genus Sotalia now is considered to have two member species with the classification of Sotalia guianensis as a distinct species from Sotalia fluviatilis in 2007...
(syn. Tucuxa)- TucuxiTucuxiThe Tucuxi , alternately bufeo gris or bufeo negro is a dolphin found in the rivers of the Amazon Basin. The word "tucuxi" is derived from the Tupi language word tuchuchi-ana and has now been adopted as the species' common name...
, Sotalia fluviatilis - CosteroCosteroThe Costero is found in the coastal waters to the north and east of South America. The common name "costero" has been suggested by Caballero and colleagues due to the species' affinity for coastal habitats. The Costero is a member of the oceanic dolphin family . Physically it resembles the...
, Sotalia guianensis
- Tucuxi
- Genus StenoStenoSteno may refer to:*Steno, small community at the northwest of Salamis Island, Greece*Stenography, the process of writing in shorthand**Stenotype, a specialized chorded keyboard or typewriter used by stenographers for shorthand use...
(syn. Glyphidelphis, Stenopontistes)- Rough-toothed DolphinRough-toothed DolphinThe Rough-toothed dolphin is species of dolphin that can be found in deep warm and tropical waters around the world.The species was first described by Georges Cuvier in 1823...
, Steno bredanensis
- Rough-toothed Dolphin
- Genus Sotalia
- Subfamily incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Genus LagenorhynchusLagenorhynchusLagenorhynchus is a genus in the order Cetacea, traditionally containing six species:* white-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris* Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus...
- White-beaked DolphinWhite-beaked DolphinThe White-beaked dolphin is a marine mammal belonging to the family Delphinidae in the suborder Odontoceti .-Taxonomy:...
, Lagenorhynchus albirostris - Atlantic White-sided DolphinAtlantic White-sided DolphinThe Atlantic White-sided Dolphin is a distinctively coloured dolphin found in the cool to temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.-Taxonomy:...
, Lagenorhynchus acutus - Pacific White-sided DolphinPacific White-sided DolphinThe Pacific White-sided Dolphin is a very active dolphin found in the cool to temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean.-Taxonomy:...
, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens - Dusky DolphinDusky DolphinThe dusky dolphin is a dolphin found in coastal waters in the Southern Hemisphere. Its specific epithet is Latin for "dark" or "dim". It is very closely genetically related to the Pacific white-sided dolphin, but current scientific consensus is that they are distinct species...
, Lagenorhynchus obscurus - Black-chinned Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis
- Hourglass DolphinHourglass DolphinThe hourglass dolphin is a small dolphin in the family Delphinidae that inhabits Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters....
, Lagenorhynchus cruciger
- White-beaked Dolphin
- Genus Lagenorhynchus
- Subfamily Delphininae
- Family MonodontidaeMonodontidaeThe cetacean family Monodontidae comprises two unusual whale species, the narwhal, in which the male has a long tusk, and the white beluga whale...
- Subfamily Delphinapterinae
- Genus Delphinapterus
- Beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas
- Genus Delphinapterus
- Subfamily Monodontinae
- Genus Monodon
- NarwhalNarwhalThe narwhal, Monodon monoceros, is a medium-sized toothed whale that lives year-round in the Arctic. One of two living species of whale in the Monodontidae family, along with the beluga whale, the narwhal males are distinguished by a characteristic long, straight, helical tusk extending from their...
, Monodon monoceros
- Narwhal
- Genus Monodon
- Subfamily Delphinapterinae
- Family Phocoenidae: PorpoisePorpoisePorpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen...
s- Subfamily Phocoeninae
- Genus Neophocaena (syn. Meomeris)
- Finless PorpoiseFinless PorpoiseThe finless porpoise is one of six porpoise species. In the waters around Japan, at the northern end of its range, it is known as the sunameri . A freshwater population found in the Yangtze River in China is known locally as the jiangzhu or "river pig". There is a degree of taxonomic uncertainty...
, Neophocaena phocaenoides
- Finless Porpoise
- Genus Phocoena (syn. Australophocaena, Acanthodelphis)
- Harbour PorpoiseHarbour PorpoiseThe harbour porpoise is one of six species of porpoise. It is one of the smallest marine mammals. As its name implies, it stays close to coastal areas or river estuaries, and as such, is the most familiar porpoise to whale watchers. This porpoise often ventures up rivers, and has been seen...
, Phocoena phocaena - VaquitaVaquitaThe vaquita is a rare species of porpoise. It is endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. Estimates of the number of individuals alive range from 100 to 300. The word "vaquita" is Spanish for little cow...
, Phocoena sinus - Spectacled PorpoiseSpectacled PorpoiseThe Spectacled Porpoise is a rarely seen member of the porpoise family. The species is readily distinguished from other porpoises by a characteristic dark ring around the eyes, which gives the animals their name. This ring is commonly surrounded by a farther lighter ring...
, Phocoena dioptrica - Burmeister's PorpoiseBurmeister's PorpoiseBurmeister's Porpoise is a species of porpoise endemic to the coast of South America. It was first described by Hermann Burmeister, for whom the species is named, in 1865...
, Phocoena spinipinnis
- Harbour Porpoise
- Genus Neophocaena (syn. Meomeris)
- Subfamily Phocoenoidinae
- Genus Phocoenoides
- Dall's PorpoiseDall's PorpoiseDall's porpoise is a species of porpoise found on the North Pacific. It came to worldwide attention in the 1970s when it was disclosed for the first time to the public that salmon fishing trawls were killing a lot, thousands of Dall's porpoises and other cetaceans each year by accidentally...
, Phocoenoides dalli
- Dall's Porpoise
- Genus Phocoenoides
- Subfamily Phocoeninae
- Family Delphinidae: oceanic dolphin
- Superfamily Inioidea
- Family IniidaeIniidaeIniidae is a family of river dolphins containing one living and three extinct genera.-Taxonomy:The family was described by John Edward Gray in 1846.Current classifications include a single living genera, Inia, with one species and three subspecies...
- Genus IniaIniaInia is a genus of river dolphin containing one or possibly two species.-Taxonomy:The genus was described by Alcide d'Orbigny in 1834 when Delphinus geoffrensis, described by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1817, was recognized to be a unique taxon...
- Bolivian River DolphinBolivian River DolphinThe Bolivian river dolphin is a subspecies of the Amazon river dolphin. Although older publications as well as some recent publications consider the boliviensis population as distinct species from Inia geoffrensis, the great majority of the scientific community including the IUCN consider...
, Inia boliviensis - Amazon River Dolphin, Inia geoffrensis
- Bolivian River Dolphin
- Genus Inia
- Family Pontoporiidae
- Genus PontoporiaPontoporiaPontoporia may refers to:* The La Plata Dolphin, re: film PONTOPORIA, EL DELFIN DEL PLATA, 30 min. B&W. sound. Camera, editing, director: Eduardo Darino, for ICUR,Instituto de Cine, Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay....
- La Plata DolphinLa Plata DolphinThe La Plata Dolphin or Franciscana is found in coastal Atlantic waters of southeastern South America. Taxonomically it is a member of the river dolphin group and the only one that actually lives in the ocean and saltwater estuaries, rather than inhabiting exclusively freshwater...
, Pontoporia blainvillei
- La Plata Dolphin
- Genus Pontoporia
- Family Iniidae
- Superfamily Lipotoidea
- Family Lipotidae
- Genus Lipotes
- Chinese River Dolphin, Lipotes vexillifer
- Genus Lipotes
- Family Lipotidae
- Superfamily Physeteroidea
- Family Kogiidae
- Genus Kogia
- Dwarf Sperm WhaleDwarf Sperm WhaleThe Dwarf Sperm Whale is one of three species in the sperm whale family. They are not often sighted at sea. As such, most information is a result of the study of stranded carcasses.-Taxonomy:...
, Kogia sima - Pygmy Sperm WhalePygmy Sperm WhaleThe Pygmy Sperm Whale is one of three species of toothed whale in the sperm whale family. They are not often sighted at sea, and most of what is known about them comes from the examination of stranded specimens.-Taxonomy:...
, Kogia breviceps
- Dwarf Sperm Whale
- Genus Kogia
- Family Physeteridae: sperm whale familySperm whale familyPhyseteroidea is a superfamily including just three living species of whale; the Sperm Whale, in the genus Physeter, and the Pygmy Sperm Whale and Dwarf Sperm Whale, in the genus Kogia...
- Genus Physeter
- Sperm WhaleSperm WhaleThe sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter...
, Physeter macrocephalus
- Sperm Whale
- Genus Physeter
- Family Kogiidae
- Superfamily Platanistoidea: river dolphins
- Family Platanistidae
- Genus Platanista
- Ganges and Indus River DolphinGanges and Indus River DolphinThe South Asian River Dolphin is a freshwater or river dolphin found in India, Nepal and Pakistan which is split into two sub-species, the Ganges River Dolphin and Indus River Dolphin...
, Platanista gangetica
- Ganges and Indus River Dolphin
- Genus Platanista
- Family †Squalodontidae
- Genus †Eosqualodon
- Genus †Phoberodon
- Genus †SqualodonSqualodonSqualodon is an extinct genus of whales, belonging to the family Squalodontidae. Named by Grateloup in 1840, it was originally believed to be an iguanodontid dinosaur but has since been reclassified. The name Squalodon comes from Squalus, a genus of shark...
(Jr synonyms Arionius, Crenidelphinus, Kelloggia, Macrophoca, Rhizoprion, Phoca pedronii, Phocodon, Priscodelphinus validus, Smilocamptus) - Genus †Tangaroasaurus
- Family Platanistidae
- Superfamily Ziphioidea
- Family Ziphidae, beaked whales
- Subfamily Berardiinae
- Genus Berardius, giant beaked whales
- Arnoux's Beaked Whale, Berardius arnuxii
- Baird's Beaked Whale (North Pacific Bottlenose Whale), Berardius bairdii
- Genus Berardius, giant beaked whales
- Subfamily Hyperoodontinae
- Genus Hyperoodon
- Northern Bottlenose Whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
- Southern Bottlenose WhaleSouthern bottlenose whaleThe Southern bottlenose whale is a species of whale, in the ziphiid family, one of two members of the Hyperoodon genus. The southern bottlenose has been rarely observed, was seldom hunted, and is probably the most abundant whale in Antarctic waters.-Physical description:It is fairly rotund and...
, Hyperoodon planifrons
- Genus Indopacetus
- Tropical bottlenose whale (Longman's Beaked Whale), Indopacetus pacificus
- Genus Mesoplodon, mesoplodont whaleMesoplodont whaleMesoplodont whales are fourteen species of whale in the genus Mesoplodon, making it the largest genus in the cetacean order. Two species were described as recently as 1991 and 2002 , and marine biologists predict the discovery of more species in the future. They are the most poorly known group of...
s- Hector's Beaked WhaleHector's Beaked WhaleHector's beaked whale , is a small mesoplodont living in the Southern Hemisphere. This whale is named after Sir James Hector, a founder of the colonial museum in Wellington, New Zealand...
, Mesoplodon hectori - True's Beaked WhaleTrue's Beaked WhaleThe True's Beaked Whale is a medium sized whale in the Mesoplodont genus. The common name is in reference to Frederick W. True, a curator at the United States National Museum...
, Mesoplodon mirus - Gervais' Beaked WhaleGervais' Beaked WhaleGervais' beaked whale , sometimes known as the Antillian beaked whale, Gulf Stream beaked whale, or European beaked whale is the most frequently stranding type of mesoplodont whale off the coast of North America...
, Mesoplodon europaeus - Sowerby's Beaked WhaleSowerby's Beaked WhaleSowerby's beaked whale , also known as the North Atlantic/North Sea beaked whale, was the first beaked whale to be described. James Sowerby, an English naturalist and artist, first described the species in 1804 from a skull obtained from a male that had stranded in the Moray Firth, Scotland, in 1800...
, Mesoplodon bidens - Gray's Beaked WhaleGray's Beaked WhaleGray's beaked whale , sometimes known as Haast's beaked whale, the Scamperdown whale, or the southern beaked whale, is one of the better-known members of the genus Mesoplodon. The scientific name refers to John Edward Gray, a zoologist at the British Museum. This species is fairly gregarious and...
, Mesoplodon grayi - Pygmy Beaked WhalePygmy Beaked WhaleThe pygmy beaked whale , also known as the bandolero beaked whale, Peruvian beaked whale and lesser beaked whale, is the smallest of the mesoplodonts and one of the newest discoveries. There were at least two dozen sightings of an unknown beaked whale named Mesoplodon sp...
, Mesoplodon peruvianus - Andrews' beaked whaleAndrews' Beaked WhaleAndrews' beaked whale , sometimes known as the deep-crest beaked whale or splay-toothed whale, is one of the most poorly known members of a poorly known genus...
, Mesoplodon bowdoini - Bahamonde's Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon bahamondi
- Hubbs' Beaked WhaleHubbs' Beaked WhaleHubbs' beaked whale was initially thought to be an Andrews' beaked whale when discovered by ichthyologist Carl Hubbs; however, it was named in his honor when it was discovered to be a new species. This species has the typical dentition found in the genus, but its main outstanding features are a...
, Mesoplodon carlhubbsi - Ginko-toothed Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens
- Stejneger's Beaked WhaleStejneger's Beaked WhaleStejneger's beaked whale , sometimes known as the Bering Sea beaked whale or the Saber-toothed whale, is a poorly-known member of the genus Mesoplodon inhabiting the northern North Pacific Ocean. Leonhard Hess Stejneger initially described the species in 1885 from a skull, and nothing more of the...
, Mesoplodon stejnegeri - Strap-toothed whale, Mesoplodon layardii
- Blainville's Beaked WhaleBlainville's Beaked WhaleBlainville's beaked whale , or the dense-beaked whale, is the widest ranging mesoplodont whale and perhaps the most documented. Henri de Blainville first described the species in 1817 from a small piece of jaw—the heaviest bone he had ever come across—which resulted in the name densirostris...
, Mesoplodon densirostris - Perrin's Beaked WhalePerrin's Beaked WhalePerrin's beaked whale is the newest species of beaked whale to be described. The first two specimens were found in May 1975 stranded on the California coast, with two more specimens being found in 1978 and 1979, and the last in September 1997...
, Mesoplodon perrini
- Hector's Beaked Whale
- Genus Hyperoodon
- Subfamily Ziphiinae
- Genus Tasmacetus
- Shepherd's beaked whaleShepherd's Beaked WhaleShepherd's beaked whale , also commonly called Tasman's beaked whale or simply the Tasman whale, is a cetacean of the family Ziphidae. The whale has been little studied. Only four confirmed at sea sightings have been made and 42 strandings recorded . It was first known to science in 1937, being...
(Shepherd's Beaked Whale), Tasmacetus shepherdi
- Shepherd's beaked whale
- Genus Ziphius
- Cuvier's Beaked WhaleCuvier's Beaked WhaleCuvier's beaked whale is the most widely distributed of all the beaked whales. It is the only member of the genus Ziphius. Another common name for the species is goose-beaked whale because its head is said to be shaped like the beak of a goose. Georges Cuvier first described it in 1823 from part...
, Ziphius cavirostris
- Cuvier's Beaked Whale
- Genus Tasmacetus
- Subfamily Berardiinae
- Family Ziphidae, beaked whales
- Superfamily Delphinoidea
- Suborder Odontoceti: toothed whales