Cetacea is an infraorder that comprises the 94 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It is divided into toothed whales (Odontoceti) and baleen whales (Mysticeti), which diverged from each other in the Eocene some 50 million years ago (mya). Cetaceans are descended from land-dwelling hoofed mammals, and the now extinct archaeocetes represent the several transitional phases from terrestrial to completely aquatic.[1] Historically, cetaceans were thought to have descended from the wolf-like mesonychians, but cladistic analyses confirm their placement with even-toed ungulates in the order Cetartiodactyla.[2][3][4][5][6]

Whale populations were drastically reduced in the 20th century from intensive whaling, and the activity was globally banned in 1982.[7] Smaller cetaceans are at risk of accidentally getting caught by fishing vessels using, namely, seine fishing, drift netting, or gill netting operations.[8]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
 EX Extinct (0 species)
 EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
 CR Critically Endangered (5 species)
 EN Endangered (11 species)
 VU Vulnerable (7 species)
 NT Near threatened (10 species)
 LC Least concern (50 species)
Other categories
 DD Data deficient (9 species)
 NE Not evaluated (3 species)

The following is a list of currently existing (or, in the jargon of taxonomy) 'extant' species of the infraorder cetacea (for extinct cetacean species, see the list of extinct cetaceans). The list is organized taxonomically into parvorders, superfamilies when applicable, families, subfamilies when applicable, genus, and then species. In tabular form, seven descriptors are given for each species: the common name; the scientific name; the IUCN Red List status; a global population estimate; a global map with its range; its weight with an image of its shape, and its size relative to a human; and a photograph.

Conservation status codes listed follow the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v. 2014.3; data current at 20 January 2015).[9]

Where available, the global population estimate has been listed. When not cited or footnoted differently, these are from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v. 2014.3; data current at 20 January 2015).[9]

Mysticeti: baleen whales

The baleen whales, also called whalebone whales or great whales, form the parvorder Mysticeti. Baleen whales are characterized by having baleen plates for filter feeding and two blowholes.[10]

Family Balaenidae: right whales

The family Balaenidae, the right whales, contains two genera and four species. All right whales have no ventral grooves; a distinctive head shape with a strongly arched, narrow rostrum, bowed lower jaw; lower lips that enfold the sides and front of the rostrum; and long, narrow, elastic baleen plates (up to nine times longer than wide) with fine baleen fringes.[11]

Genus Balaena Linnaeus, 1758 – one species
Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List status Global population estimate Range Size Picture
Bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus
Linnaeus, 1758		 LC IUCN 10,000 Bowhead whale range Bowhead whale size
60 t (66 short tons)		 Bowhead whale
Genus Eubalaena Gray, 1864 – three species
Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List status Global population estimate Range Size Picture
North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis
Müller, 1776		 CR IUCN 350 North Atlantic right whale range North Atlantic right whale size
40–80 t (44–88 short tons)		 North Atlantic right whale
North Pacific right whale Eubalaena japonica
Lacépède, 1818		 EN IUCN 404-2,108[12] North Pacific right whale range North Pacific right whale size
60–80 t (66–88 short tons)		 North Pacific right whale
Southern right whale Eubalaena australis
Desmoulins, 1822		 LC IUCN 13,600 [13] Southern right whale range Southern right whale size
40–80 t (44–88 short tons)		 Southern right whale

Family Balaenopteridae: rorquals

Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with eleven species in three genera. They include the largest animal that has ever lived, the blue whale. They take their name from a Norwegian word meaning "furrow whale"; all members of the family have a series of longitudinal folds of skin running from below the mouth back to the navel (except the sei whale, which has shorter grooves). They allow the mouth to expand immensely when feeding.[14] All rorquals have these unique folds.[11]

Subfamily Balaenopteridae – one genus, nine species
Genus Balaenoptera – nine species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus
Linnaeus, 1758		 EN IUCN 5,000-15,000 Blue whale range Blue whale size
50–150 t (55–165 short tons)		 Blue whale
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera brydei
Olsen, 1913		 LC IUCN 90,000–100,000 Bryde's whale range Bryde's whale size
14–30 t (15–33 short tons)		 Bryde's whale
Eden's whale[lower-alpha 1] Balaenoptera edeni
Anderson, 1879		 LC IUCN Unknown Eden's whale range Unknown Eden's whale (illustration)
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Lacépède, 1804		 LC IUCN 200,000 Common minke whale range Common minke whale size
2–4 t (2.2–4.4 short tons)		 Common minke whale
Rice's whale[16] Balaenoptera ricei

Rosel et al., 2021

 CR IUCN 30 – 100
~13.9 t (15.3 short tons)
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus
Linnaeus, 1758		 VU IUCN 100,000 Fin whale range Fin whale size
30–80 t (33–88 short tons)		 Fin whale
Omura's whale Balaenoptera omurai
Wada et al., 2003		 DD IUCN Unknown Unknown Unknown Omura's whale
Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis
Lesson, 1828		 EN IUCN 80,000[17] Sei whale range Sei whale size
20–25 t (22–28 short tons)		 Sei whales
Antarctic minke whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis
Burmeister, 1867		 NT IUCN 515,000 [18] Antarctic minke whale range Antarctic minke whale size
6–10 t (6.6–11.0 short tons)		 Antarctic minke whale
Genus Megaptera Gray, 1846 – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Borowski, 1781		 LC IUCN 84,000 Humpback whale range Humpback whale size
25–30 t (28–33 short tons)		 Humpback whale
Genus Eschrichtius Gray, 1864 – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Gray whale Eschrichtius robustus
Lilljeborg, 1861		 LC IUCN 21,000 [19] Gray whale range Gray whale size
15–40 t (17–44 short tons)		 Gray whale

Family Cetotheriidae: pygmy right whale

The pygmy right whale shares several characteristics with the right whales, with the exception of having a dorsal fin. Also, pygmy right whales' heads are no more than one-fourth the size of their bodies, whereas the right whales' heads are about one-third the size of their bodies.[11] The pygmy right whale is the only extant member of its family.

Genus Caperea Gray, 1864 – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Pygmy right whale Caperea marginata
Gray, 1846		 LC IUCN Unknown Pygmy right whale range Pygmy right whale size
3–3.5 t (3.3–3.9 short tons)		 Pygmy right whale (illustration)

Odontoceti: toothed whales

The toothed whales (parvorder Odontoceti), as the name suggests, are characterized by having teeth (rather than baleen). Toothed whales are active hunters, feeding on fish, squid, and in some cases other marine mammals.[20]

Family Delphinidae: oceanic dolphins

Oceanic dolphins are the members of the family Delphinidae. As the name implies, they tend to be found in the open seas, unlike the river dolphins, although a few species such as the Irrawaddy dolphin are coastal or riverine.

The Delphinidae are characterized by having distinct beaks (unlike the Phocoenidae), two or more fused cervical vertebrae and 20 or more pairs of teeth in their upper jaws. None is more than 4 m long.[11]

Genus Cephalorhynchus Gray, 1846 – four species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Chilean dolphin Cephalorhynchus eutropia
Gray, 1846		 NT IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 2] Chilean dolphin range Chilean dolphin size
60 kg (130 lb)		 Chilean dolphin
Commerson's dolphin Cephalorhynchus commersonii
Lacépède, 1804		 LC IUCN 22,000 [21] Commerson's dolphin range Commerson's dolphin size
35–60 kg (77–132 lb)		 Commerson's dolphin
Heaviside's dolphin Cephalorhynchus heavisidii
Gray, 1828		 NT IUCN Unknown Heaviside's dolphin range Heaviside's dolphin size
40–75 kg (88–165 lb)		 Heaviside's dolphin
Hector's dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori
Van Beneden, 1881		 EN IUCN (subspecies Maui dolphin CR IUCN) 7,381 (subspecies Maui dolphin 57–75 in 2016) Hector's dolphin range (Maui dolphin in green) Hector's dolphin size
35–60 kg (77–132 lb)		 Hector's dolphin
Genus Delphinus – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Linnaeus, 1758		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 3] Long-beaked common dolphin size
70–150 kg (150–330 lb)		 Short-beaked common dolphin
Genus Feresa – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Pygmy killer whale Feresa attenuata
Gray, 1875		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 4] Pygmy killer whale range Pygmy killer whale size
160–350 kg (350–770 lb)		 Pygmy killer whale
Genus Globicephala – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas
Traill, 1809		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 5] Pilot whale range

(green)

 Long-finned pilot whale size
1.8–3.5 t (2.0–3.9 short tons)		 Long-finned pilot whale
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Gray, 1846		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 6] Pilot whale range

(dark blue)

 Short-finned pilot whale size
1–4 t (1.1–4.4 short tons)		 Short-finned pilot whale
Genus Grampus – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus
G. Cuvier, 1812		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 7] Risso's dolphin range Risso's dolphin size
300 kg (660 lb)		 Risso's dolphin
Genus Lagenodelphis – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Fraser's dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei
Fraser, 1956		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 8] Fraser's dolphin range Fraser's dolphin size
209 kg (461 lb)		 Fraser's dolphin
Genus Lagenorhynchus Gray, 1846 – six species[lower-alpha 9]
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris
Gray, 1846		 LC IUCN 100,000 [lower-alpha 10] White-beaked dolphin range White beaked dolphin size
180 kg (400 lb)		 White-beaked dolphin
Atlantic white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus
Gray, 1828		 LC IUCN 200,000 – 300,000 Atlantic white-sided dolphin range Atlantic white-sided dolphin size
235 kg (518 lb)		 Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Dusky dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus
Gray, 1828		 LC IUCN Unknown Dusky dolphin range Dusky dolphin size
100 kg (220 lb)		 Dusky dolphin
Hourglass dolphin Lagenorhynchus cruciger
Quoy & Gaimard, 1824		 LC IUCN 140,000 Hourglass dolphin range Hourglass dolphin size
90–120 kg (200–260 lb)		 Hourglass dolphin
Pacific white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Gill, 1865		 LC IUCN 1,000,000 Pacific white-sided dolphin range Pacific white-sided dolphin size
85–150 kg (187–331 lb)		 Pacific white-sided dolphin
Peale's dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis
Peale, 1848		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 11] Peale's dolphin range Peale's dolphin size
115 kg (254 lb)		 Peale's dolphin
Genus Lissodelphis – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Northern right whale dolphin Lissodelphis borealis
Peale, 1848		 LC IUCN 400,000 [lower-alpha 12] Northern right whale dolphin range Northern right whale dolphin size
115 kg (254 lb)		 Northern right whale dolphin
Southern right whale dolphin Lissodelphis peronii
Lacépède, 1804		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 13] Southern right whale dolphin range Southern right whale dolphin size
60–100 kg (130–220 lb)		 Southern right whale dolphin
Genus Orcaella Gray, 1866 – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Australian snubfin dolphin Orcaella heinsohni
Beasley, Robertson & Arnold, 2005		 VU IUCN 9,000 - 10,000 Australian snubfin dolphin range Australian snubfin dolphin size
130–145 kg (287–320 lb)		 Australian snubfin dolphin
Irrawaddy dolphin Orcaella brevirostris
Gray, 1866		 EN IUCN Unknown Irrawaddy dolphin range Irrawaddy dolphin size
130 kg (290 lb)		 Irrawaddy dolphin
Genus Orcinus – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Orca Orcinus orca
Linnaeus, 1758		 DD IUCN 100,000 [lower-alpha 14] Killer whale range Killer whale size
4.5 t (5.0 short tons)		 Killer whale
Genus Peponocephala – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Melon-headed whale Peponocephala electra
Gray, 1846		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 15] Melon-headed whale range Melon-headed whale size
225 kg (496 lb)		 Melon-headed whale
Genus Pseudorca – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens
Owen, 1846		 NT IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 16] False killer whale range False killer whale size
1.5–2 t (1.7–2.2 short tons)		 False killer whale
Genus Sousa – four species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Atlantic humpback dolphin Sousa teuszii
Kükenthal, 1892		 CR IUCN 1,500 Atlantic humpback dolphin range Atlantic humpback dolphin size
100–150 kg (220–330 lb)		 Atlantic humpback dolphin
Australian humpback dolphin Sousa sahulensis
Jefferson & Rosenbaum, 2014		 VU IUCN 10,000 Australian humpback dolphin
Indian Ocean humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea
Cuvier, 1829		 EN IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 17] Indian humpback dolphin range Indian humpback dolphin size Indian humpback dolphin
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis
Osbeck, 1765		 VU IUCN Unknown Pacific humpback dolphin range Pacific humpback dolphin size
250–280 kg (550–620 lb)		 Pacific humpback dolphin
Genus Sotalia – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis
Bénéden, 1864		 NT IUCN Unknown Costero range
Solid color		 Costero size
35–45 kg (77–99 lb)		 Costero
Tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis
Gervais & Deville, 1853		 EN IUCN Unknown Tucuxi range
Hashed color		 Tucuxi size
35–45 kg (77–99 lb)		 Tucuxi
Genus Stenella Gray, 1866 – five species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis
Cuvier, 1829		 LC IUCN 100,000 Atlantic spotted dolphin range Atlantic spotted dolphin size
100 kg		 Atlantic spotted dolphin
Clymene dolphin Stenella clymene
Gray, 1846		 LC IUCN Unknown Clymene dolphin range Clymene dolphin size
75–80 kg (165–176 lb)		 Clymene dolphin
Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata
Gray, 1846		 LC IUCN 3,000,000 Pantropical spotted dolphin range Pantropical spotted dolphin size
100 kg (220 lb)		 Pantropical spotted dolphin
Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris
Gray, 1828		 LC IUCN Unknown Spinner dolphin range Spinner dolphin size
90 kg (200 lb)		 Spinner dolphin
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Meyen, 1833		 LC IUCN 2,000,000 Striped dolphin range Striped dolphin size
100 kg (220 lb)		 Striped dolphin
Genus Steno – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis
Lesson, 1828		 LC IUCN 150,000 Rough-toothed dolphin range Rough-toothed dolphin size
100–135 kg (220–298 lb)		 Rough-toothed dolphin
Genus Tursiops – three species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Montagu, 1821		 LC IUCN 600,000[22] Common bottlenose dolphin range Common bottlenose dolphin size
150–650 kg (330–1,430 lb)		 Common bottlenose dolphin
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus
Ehrenberg, 1833		 NT IUCN Unknown
230 kg		 Indo-Pacific dolphin
Tamanend's bottlenose dolphin Tursiops erebennus
Cope, 1865		 NE Unknown [cetacean needed]

Family Iniidae: river dolphins

This family contains one genus with two species.

Genus Inia – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Amazon river dolphin Inia geoffrensis
Blainville, 1817		 EN IUCN Unknown Amazon river dolphin range Amazon river dolphin size
150 kg (330 lb)		 Amazon river dolphin
Araguaian river dolphin[lower-alpha 18] Inia araguaiaensis
Hrbek, Da Silva, Dutra, Farias, 2014		 NE Unknown Araguaian river dolphin range
Araguaian river dolphin in blue		 Araguaian river dolphin size
150 kg (330 lb)		 Araguaian river dolphin

Family Kogiidae: dwarf and pygmy sperm whales

The dwarf and pygmy sperm whales resemble sperm whales, but are far smaller. They have blunt, squarish heads with narrow, underslung jaws; the flippers are set far forward, close to the head and their dorsal fins are set far back down the body.[23]

Genus Kogia – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima
Owen, 1866		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 19] Dwarf sperm whale range Dwarf sperm whale size
250 kg (550 lb)		 Dwarf sperm whale (reconstruction)
Pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps
Blainville, 1838		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 20] Pygmy sperm whale range Pygmy sperm whale size
400 kg (880 lb)		 Pygmy sperm whale

Family Lipotidae: baiji

The family Lipotidae contains only the baiji. DNA evidence suggests it separated from oceanic dolphins about 25 million years ago.[24] The species was declared functionally extinct in 2006 after an expedition to estimate the population found none.

Genus Lipotes – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Baiji Lipotes vexillifer
Miller, 1918		 CR IUCN 0-13 [lower-alpha 21] Baiji range Baiji size
130 kg (290 lb)		 Baiji

Family Monodontidae: narwhal and beluga

The Monodontidae lack dorsal fins, which have been replaced by tough, fibrous ridges just behind the midpoints of their bodies and are probably an adaptation to swimming under ice, as both do in their Arctic habitat. The flippers are small, rounded and tend to curl up at the ends in adulthood. All, or almost all, the cervical vertebrae are unfused, allowing their heads to be turned independently of their bodies.[11]

Genus Delphinapterus – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Beluga Delphinapterus leucas
Pallas, 1776		 LC IUCN 136,000 [lower-alpha 22] Beluga whale range Beluga whale size
1.5 t (1.7 short tons)		 Beluga whale
Genus Monodon – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Narwhal Monodon monoceros
Linnaeus, 1758		 LC IUCN 123,000 Narwhal range Narwhal size
900–1,500 kg (2,000–3,300 lb)		 Narwhal pod

Family Phocoenidae: porpoises

Porpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen. The most obvious visible differences between the two groups are that porpoises have a less pronounced beak, and have spade-shaped teeth as opposed to conical.[25]

Porpoises, divided into seven species, live in all oceans. They span from species that live almost exclusively coastal and in rivers (finless porpoises) to species that are entirely oceanic (spectacled porpoise).

Genus Neophocaena – two or three species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Indo-Pacific finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides
Cuvier, 1829		 VU IUCN[lower-alpha 23] Unknown[lower-alpha 24] Indo-pacific finless porpoise range Indo-pacific finless porpoise size
30–45 kg (66–99 lb)		 Indo-pacific finless porpoise (skeleton)
Narrow-ridged finless porpoise Neophocaena asiaeorientalis
Cuvier, 1829		 EN IUCN (subspecies Yangtze finless porpoise CR IUCN)[lower-alpha 25] Unknown (subspecies Yangtze finless porpoise 1,012 in 2018[26][27]) Narrow-ridged finless porpoise range (red color) Finless porpoise size
30–45 kg (66–99 lb)		 Narrow-ridged finless porpoise
Genus Phocoena – four species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Burmeister's porpoise Phocoena spinipinnis
Burmeister, 1865		 NT IUCN Unknown[lower-alpha 26] Burmeister's porpoise range Burmeister's porpoise size
50–75 kg (110–165 lb)		 Burmeister's porpoise
Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena
Linnaeus, 1758		 LC IUCN 700,000 [28] Harbour porpoise range Harbour porpoise size
75 kg (165 lb)		 Harbour porpoise
Spectacled porpoise Phocoena dioptrica
Lahille, 1912		 LC IUCN Unknown[lower-alpha 27] Spectacled porpoise range Spectacled porpoise size
60–84 kg (132–185 lb)		 Subadult female spectacled porpoise
Vaquita Phocoena sinus
Norris & McFarland, 1958		 CR IUCN 12 [29] Vaquita range Vaquita size
50 kg (110 lb)		 Vaquita
Genus Phocoenoides – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli
True, 1885		 LC IUCN 1,100,000[lower-alpha 28] Dall's porpoise range Dall's porpoise size
130–200 kg (290–440 lb)		 Dall's porpoise

Family Physeteridae: sperm whale

The sperm whale characteristically has a large, squarish head one-third the length of its body; the blowhole is slightly to the left hand side; the skin is usually wrinkled; and it has no teeth on the upper jaw.

Genus Physeter – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus
Linnaeus, 1758		 VU IUCN 200,000–2,000,000 [lower-alpha 29] Sperm whale range Sperm whale size
25–50 t (28–55 short tons)		 Sperm whale

Family Platanistidae: South Asian river dolphins

The Platanistidae were originally thought to hold only one species (the South Asian river dolphin), but, based on differences in skull structure, vertebrae and lipid composition, it was split into two separate species in the early 1970s, before being demoted back to subspecies in 1988.[30] However, more recent studies support them being distinct species.[31]

Genus Platanista – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Ganges river dolphin Platanista gangetica
(Lebeck, 1801)		 EN IUCN 3,500[32] South Asian dolphin range

(orange)

 South Asian river dolphin size
200 kg (440 lb)		 [cetacean needed]
Indus river dolphin Platanista minor

Owen, 1853

 EN IUCN 1450[33] South Asian dolphin range

(blue)

 South Asian river dolphin size
200 kg (440 lb)

Family Pontoporiidae: La Plata dolphin

The La Plata dolphin is the only species of the family Pontoporiidae and genus Pontoporia. These dolphins are known for their long beak in relation to their relatively small body size. They have a small geographic range and are mainly found in the waters along the east coast of South America. La Plata dolphins are exclusively marine organisms, however, they are grouped with river-dolphins due to the fact that they reside in the La Plata River which is a salt-water estuary. With their white or sometimes pale brown coloration, fishermen tend to call them "the white ghost", as they also tend to stray away from any human interaction.[34]

Genus Pontoporia – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
La Plata dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei
Gervais & d'Orbigny, 1844		 VU IUCN 4,000–4,500 La Plata dolphin range La Plata dolphin size
50 kg (110 lb)		 La Plata dolphin (skeleton)

Family Ziphiidae: beaked whales

A beaked whale is any of at least 22 species of whale in the family Ziphiidae. Several species have only been described in the last two decades. Six genera have been identified.

They possess a unique feeding mechanism among cetaceans known as suction feeding. They are characterized by having a lower jaw that extends at least to the tip of the upper jaw, a shallow or non-existent notch between the tail flukes, a dorsal fin set far backwards, three of four fused neck vertebrae, extensive skull asymmetry and two conspicuous throat grooves forming a 'V' pattern (which aid in sucking).[11]

Genus Berardius – three species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Arnoux's beaked whale Berardius arnuxii
Duvernoy, 1851		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 30] Arnoux's beaked whale range Arnoux's beaked whale size
8 t (8.8 short tons)		 Arnoux's beaked whale
Baird's beaked whale Berardius bairdii
Stejneger, 1883		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 31] Baird's beaked whale range Baird's beaked whale size
12 t (13 short tons)		 Berardius bairdii
Sato's beaked whale Berardius minimus
Yamada et al., 2019		 NT IUCN Unknown North Pacific Sato's beaked whale size
Unknown		 Berardius minimus illustration
Genus Tasmacetus – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Shepherd's beaked whale Tasmacetus shepherdi
Oliver, 1937		 DD IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 32] Shepherd's beaked whale range Shepherd's beaked whale size
2–2.5 t (2.2–2.8 short tons)		 Two underwater Shepherd's beaked whales
Genus Ziphius – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris
G. Cuvier, 1823		 LC IUCN 100,000 [lower-alpha 33] Cuvier's beaked whale range Cuvier's beaked whale size
2–3 t (2.2–3.3 short tons)		 Cuvier's beaked whale
Subfamily Hyperoodontinae – three genera, 17 species
Genus Hyperoodon – two species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Northern bottlenose whale Hyperoodon ampullatus
Forster, 1770		 NT IUCN 10,000 [lower-alpha 34] Northern bottlenose whale range Northern bottlenose whale size
7 t (7.7 short tons)		 Northern bottlenose whale
Southern bottlenose whale Hyperoodon planifrons
Flower, 1882		 LC IUCN 500,000 Southern bottlenose range Southern bottlenose whale size
6 t (6.6 short tons)		 Two southern bottlenose whales surfacing
Genus Indopacetus – one species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Tropical bottlenose whale Indopacetus pacificus
Longman, 1926		 LC IUCN Unknown [lower-alpha 35] Tropical bottlenose whale range Tropical bottlenose whale size
3.5–4 t (3.9–4.4 short tons)		 Tropical bottlenose whale
Genus Mesoplodon Gervais, 1850 – 15 species
Common name Scientific name Status Population Distribution Size Picture
Andrews' beaked whale Mesoplodon bowdoini
Andrews, 1908		 DD IUCN Unknown Andrew's beaked whale range Andrew's beaked whale size
1 t (1.1 short tons)		 Andrew's beaked whale (skeleton)
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris
Blainville, 1817		 LC IUCN Unknown Blainville's beaked whale range Blainville's beaked whale size Blainville's beaked whale
Deraniyagala's beaked whale Mesoplodon hotaula
P. E. P. Deraniyagala, 1963		 DD IUCN Unknown [cetacean needed]
Gervais' beaked whale Mesoplodon europaeus
Gervais, 1855		 LC IUCN Unknown Gervais' beaked whale range Gervais' beaked whale
1.2 t (1.3 short tons)		 Gervais’ beaked whale
Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Mesoplodon ginkgodens
Nishiwaki & Kamiya, 1958		 DD IUCN Unknown Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale range Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale size
1.5 t (1.7 short tons)		 Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (skull)
Gray's beaked whale Mesoplodon grayi
von Haast, 1876		 LC IUCN Unknown Gray's beaked whale range Gray's beaked whale size
1.5 t (1.7 short tons)		 Gray's beaked whale
Hector's beaked whale Mesoplodon hectori
Gray, 1871		 DD IUCN Unknown Hector's beaked whale range Hector's beaked whale size
1 t (1.1 short tons)		 Hector's beaked whale
Hubbs' beaked whale Mesoplodon carlhubbsi
Moore, 1963		 DD IUCN Unknown Hubb's beaked whale range Hubb's beaked whale size
1.4 t (1.5 short tons)		 Hubbs' beaked whale skull
Perrin's beaked whale Mesoplodon perrini
Dalebout, Mead, Baker, Baker, & van Helding, 2002		 EN IUCN 500-1,164 Perrin's beaked whale size
1.3–1.5 t (1.4–1.7 short tons)		 [cetacean needed]
Pygmy beaked whale Mesoplodon peruvianus
Reyes, Mead, and Van Waerebeek, 1991		 LC IUCN Unknown Pygmy beaked whale range Pygmy beaked whale size
800 kg (1,800 lb)		 [cetacean needed]
Ramari's beaked whale Mesoplodon eueu
Carroll et al, 2021		 DD IUCN Unknown Ramari's beaked whale range

(red circle)

 Unknown Ramari's beaked whale
Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens
Sowerby, 1804		 LC IUCN Unknown Sowerby's beaked whale range Sowerby's beaked whale size
1–1.3 t (1.1–1.4 short tons)		 Sowerby's beaked whale
Spade-toothed whale Mesoplodon traversii, syn. Mesoplodon bahamondi
Gray, 1874		 DD IUCN Unknown Spade-toothed whale range Spade-toothed whale size
1.2 t (1.3 short tons)
Stejneger's beaked whale Mesoplodon stejnegeri
True, 1885		 NT IUCN Unknown Stejneger's beaked whale range Stejneger's beaked whale size
1.5 t (1.7 short tons)		 Stejneger's beaked whale (skull)
Strap-toothed whale Mesoplodon layardii
Gray, 1865		 LC IUCN Unknown Strap-toothed whale range Strap-toothed whale size
2 t (2.2 short tons)
True's beaked whale Mesoplodon mirus
True, 1913		 LC IUCN Unknown True's beaked whale range

(North Atlantic only; map includes range of M. eueu in Indian Ocean)

 True's beaked whale size
1.4 t (1.5 short tons)

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Society for Marine Mammalogy considers Eden's whale a smaller morph of the more widespread Bryde's whale based on current research.[15]
  2. ↑ Population estimated to be in the low thousands at the highest
  3. ↑ There are estimated to be at least several million common dolphins worldwide, but several large portions of its range have not been surveyed
  4. ↑ The only population estimate is of 38,900 individuals in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean
  5. ↑ Total population is not known. There are estimated to be in excess of 200,000 in the Southern Ocean. The North Atlantic population is not known
  6. ↑ Total population not known. There are 150,000 individuals in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. There are estimated to be more than 30,000 animals in the western Pacific, off the coast of Japan
  7. ↑ The population around the continental shelf of the United States has been recorded to be in excess of 60,000. In the Pacific, a census recorded 175,000 individuals in eastern tropical waters and 85,000 in the west. No global estimate of population exists
  8. ↑ There are estimated to be at least 320,000 Fraser's dolphins worldwide, but several large portions of its range have not been surveyed
  9. ↑ The genus Lagenorhynchus is under revision and likely to be split into several different genera
  10. ↑ Estimates of various stocks throughout the North Atlantic give an overall value into the high tens or low hundreds of thousands
  11. ↑ Total population unknown but thought to be locally common – it is the most common dolphin found around the Falkland Islands
  12. ↑ Varying population estimates for areas around California and the North Pacific give a total of up to 400,000
  13. ↑ Surveys suggest this is the most common dolphin off of Chilean waters
  14. ↑ Local estimates include 70–80,000 in the Antarctic, 8,000 in the tropical Pacific (although tropical waters are not the orca's preferred environment, the sheer size of this area — 19 million square kilometres — means there are thousands of orcas), up to 2,000 off Japan, 1,500 off the cooler northeast Pacific and 1,500 off Norway
  15. ↑ Estimates for eastern tropical Pacific are 45,000 and another recent survey estimates population to be 1,200 for the eastern Sulu Sea, no global estimate is known
  16. ↑ The total population is unknown. The eastern Pacific was estimated to have in excess of 40,000 individuals and is probably the home of the largest grouping
  17. ↑ Population estimated to be in the low tens of thousands
  18. ↑ As of November 2021, the Araguaian river dolphin is not recognized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy, which cites small sample size[15]
  19. ↑ No global population estimates have been made. One survey estimated a population of about 11,000 in the eastern Pacific
  20. ↑ No global population estimates have been made. One survey estimated a population of about 11,000 in the eastern Pacific
  21. ↑ A survey from November–December 2006 failed to find any individuals. Another survey, from 1997, counted only 13 individuals. In 1986, surveys estimated the number to be at about 300
  22. ↑ There are estimated to be 40,000 individuals in the Beaufort Sea, 25,000 in Hudson Bay, 18,000 in the Bering Sea and 28,000 in the Canadian High Arctic. The population in the St. Lawrence estuary is estimated to be around 1000
  23. ↑ There is not enough data to place finless porpoises on the endangered species list
  24. ↑ There are no good estimates of the animals' abundance. However a comparison of two surveys, one from the late 1970s and the other from 1999/2000 shows a decline in population and distribution.
  25. ↑ In China, they are endangered. Their propensity for staying close to shore places them in great danger from fishing.
  26. ↑ There are no quantitative data on abundance.
  27. ↑ Nothing is known of the abundance of this porpoise. It was the most commonly encountered species during preliminary beach surveys undertaken on Tierra del Fuego.
  28. ↑ The most recent estimate for the North Pacific and Bering Sea is 1,186,000.
  29. ↑ The total number of sperm whales throughout the world is unknown. Crude estimates, obtained by surveying small areas and extrapolating the result to all the world's oceans, range from 200,000 to 2,000,000 individuals
  30. ↑ Arnoux's beaked whales seem to be relatively abundant in Cook Strait during summer
  31. ↑ Virtually nothing is known about the abundance of Baird's beaked whales, except they are not rare as was formerly thought
  32. ↑ Nothing is known about the relative abundance of this species or its population composition
  33. ↑ Because of the difficulty of identifying the species the total global population is unknown
  34. ↑ Total population is unknown but likely to be of the order of 10,000
  35. ↑ A 2002 survey estimates there are 766 animals around Hawaii. No other population estimates exist for other locales

References

  1. ↑ Jamieson, Barrie G. M. (2016-04-19). Miller, Debra L. (ed.). Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Cetaceans. Vol. 7. CRC Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-4398-4257-7.
  2. ↑ Agnarsson, I.; May-Collado, LJ. (2008). "The phylogeny of Cetartiodactyla: the importance of dense taxon sampling, missing data, and the remarkable promise of cytochrome b to provide reliable species-level phylogenies". Mol Phylogenet Evol. 48 (3): 964–985. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.05.046. PMID 18590827.
  3. ↑ Price, SA.; Bininda-Emonds, OR.; Gittleman, JL. (2005). "A complete phylogeny of the whales, dolphins and even-toed hoofed mammals – Cetartiodactyla". Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 80 (3): 445–473. doi:10.1017/s1464793105006743. PMID 16094808. S2CID 45056197.
  4. ↑ Montgelard, C.; Catzeflis, FM.; Douzery, E. (1997). "Phylogenetic relationships of artiodactyls and cetaceans as deduced from the comparison of cytochrome b and 12S RNA mitochondrial sequences". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 14 (5): 550–559. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a025792. PMID 9159933.
  5. ↑ Spaulding, M.; O'Leary, MA.; Gatesy, J. (2009). "Relationships of Cetacea -Artiodactyla- Among Mammals: Increased Taxon Sampling Alters Interpretations of Key Fossils and Character Evolution". PLOS ONE. 4 (9): e7062. Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.7062S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007062. PMC 2740860. PMID 19774069.
  6. ↑ "Cetacean Species and Taxonomy". IUCN-SSC: Cetacean Specialist Group. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ Beckman, Daniel (2013). "Conservation of Cetaceans". Marine Environmental Biology and Conservation. Jones and Bartlett Learning. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-7637-7350-2.Open access icon
  8. ↑ Clover, Charles (2008). The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and what We Eat. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25505-0.
  9. 1 2 "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  10. ↑ Karlsen, K. (1962). "Development of tooth germs and adjacent structures in the whalebone whale (Balaenoptera physalus)". Hvalrådets Skrifter: Scientific Results of Marine Biological Research. 45: 1–56.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Martin, Dr. Anthony R. (1991). Whales and Dolphins. London: Salamander Books. ISBN 978-0-8160-3922-7.
  12. ↑ Miyashita, T; Kato, H (1998). "Recent data on the status of right whales in the NW Pacific Ocean". International Whaling Commission. Cambridge, UK. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. ↑ "Migratory secrets of recovering whale species". British Antarctic Survey.
  14. ↑ Goldbogen, Jeremy A. (2010). "The Ultimate Mouthful: Lunge Feeding in Rorqual Whales". American Scientist. 98 (2): 124–131. doi:10.1511/2010.83.124. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  15. 1 2 "List of Marine Mammal Species and Subspecies". MarineMammalScience.org. Society for Marine Mammalogy. May 2022.
  16. ↑ Rosel, Patricia E.; Wilcox, Lynsey A.; Yamada, Tadasu K.; Mullin, Keith D. (2021). "A new species of baleen whale (Balaenoptera) from the Gulf of Mexico, with a review of its geographic distribution". Marine Mammal Science. 37 (2): 577–610. doi:10.1111/mms.12776. ISSN 1748-7692. S2CID 234256521.
  17. ↑ "Sei Whale". oceanwide-expeditions.com. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  18. ↑ International Whaling Commission. (2013). "Report of the Scientific Committee". Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 14 (Supplement): 1–86.
  19. ↑ Stewart, Joshua D.; Weller, David W. (January 2021). "ABUNDANCE OF EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC GRAY WHALES 2019/2020". NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS. doi:10.25923/bmam-pe91. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  20. ↑ Klinowska, M.; Cooke, J. (1991). Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales of the World: the IUCN Red Data Book (PDF). Columbia University Press, NY: IUCN Publications. ISBN 978-2-88032-936-5.
  21. ↑ Dellabianca, Natalia A. (26 October 2016). "Spatial Models of Abundance and Habitat Preferences of Commerson's and Peale's Dolphin in Southern Patagonian Waters". PLOS ONE. 11 (10): e0163441. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1163441D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0163441. PMC 5082685. PMID 27783627. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Common Bottlenose Dolphin". WWF. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  23. ↑ Huggenberger, S.; Leidenberger, S.; Oelschläger, H. H. A. (December 13, 2016). "Asymmetry of the nasofacial skull in toothed whales (Odontoceit)". Journal of Zoology. 302 (1): 15–23. doi:10.1111/jzo.12425.
  24. ↑ Zhou, X.; Sun, F.; Xu, S.; et al. (2013). "Baiji genomes reveal low genetic variability and new insights into secondary aquatic adaptations". Nature Communications. 4 (2708): 2708. Bibcode:2013NatCo...4.2708Z. doi:10.1038/ncomms3708. PMC 3826649. PMID 24169659.
  25. ↑ "What's the difference between dolphins and porpoises?". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  26. ↑ 长江江豚减少 仅剩约1012头. The Beijing News (in Chinese). 25 July 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  27. ↑ 农业农村部：长江江豚减少 仅剩约1012头. The Beijing News (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  28. ↑ Bjorge, Arne; A Tolley, Krystal (2008). "Harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena". In William F. Perrin; Bernd Wursig; J. G.M. Thewissen (eds.). Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. pp. 530–532.
  29. ↑ Hoffner, Erik (2018-03-08). "Only 12 vaquita porpoises remain, watchdog group reports". Mongabay. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  30. ↑ Rice, DW (1998). Marine mammals of the world: Systematics and distribution. Society for Marine Mammalogy. pp. 92–95. ISBN 978-1-891276-03-3.
  31. ↑ Braulik, G. T.; Archer, F. I.; Khan, U.; Imran, M.; Sinha, R. K.; Jefferson, T. A.; Donovan, C.; Graves, J. A. (2021). "Taxonomic revision of the South Asian River dolphins (Platanista): Indus and Ganges River dolphins are separate species". Marine Mammal Science. 37 (3): 1022–1059. doi:10.1111/mms.12801. hdl:10023/21691.
  32. ↑ Sinha, Ravindra K.; Kannan, Kurunthachalam (2014-12-01). "Ganges River Dolphin: An Overview of Biology, Ecology, and Conservation Status in India". Ambio. 43 (8): 1029–1046. doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0534-7. ISSN 1654-7209. PMC 4235892. PMID 24924188.
  33. ↑ Braulik, Gill T.; Noureen, Uzma; Arshad, Masood; Reeves, Randall R. (2015-12-01). "Review of status, threats, and conservation management options for the endangered Indus River blind dolphin". Biological Conservation. 192: 30–41. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.09.008. ISSN 0006-3207.
  34. ↑ "National Marine Mammal Laboratory - La Plata Dolphins". Alaska Fisheries Science Center - NOAA Fisheries. NOAA Fisheries. Retrieved 18 March 2019.

Further reading

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