SafekipediaList of cetaceans
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
Cetaceans are interesting animals that live in the water. They include whales, dolphins, and porpoises. There are many different kinds of cetaceans.
They belong to two main groups: toothed whales and baleen whales. These groups separated a very long time ago.
All cetaceans started life on land. Over time, they changed to live in the ocean. Sadly, some whale numbers got smaller because of whaling. An international group, the International Whaling Commission, helped stop most hunting. Even today, some smaller cetaceans can be in danger when they get caught in fishing nets by accident.
Conventions
This is a list of all the living species of cetaceans, which include whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The list shows groups like families and helps you learn about each species. For each species, you will find its common name, its scientific name, how it is doing, an estimate of how many are left, a map of where they live, their weight, and a picture of their shape compared to a human.
The information about how each species is doing comes from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. When we know how many of a species are left, we list that number. If there is no special note, the numbers also come from the IUCN Red List.
Mysticeti: baleen whales
Main article: Baleen whale
Baleen whales are a group of whales with special plates called baleen. These plates help them catch food from the water. They have two blowholes on top of their heads.
Family Balaenidae: right whales
See also: Balaenidae
Right whales are a family of baleen whales. They have two groups and four species. These whales have a special head shape and long, thin baleen plates to help them eat.
Family Balaenopteridae: rorquals
See also: Rorqual
Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales. There are eleven species. The biggest animal ever known, the blue whale, is part of this group. Rorquals have folds in their skin that let them stretch their mouths wide when feeding.
Family Cetotheriidae: pygmy right whale
See also: Cetotheriidae
The pygmy right whale looks like other right whales but has a small fin on its back. Its head is smaller compared to its body. It is the only living member of its family.
| 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 | 43,000 | 60 t (66 short tons) | ||
| 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 | 40–80 t (44–88 short tons) | ||
| North Pacific right whale | Eubalaena japonica Lacépède, 1818 | EN IUCN | 404–2,108 | 60–80 t (66–88 short tons) | ||
| Southern right whale | Eubalaena australis Desmoulins, 1822 | LC IUCN | 13,600 | 40–80 t (44–88 short tons) |
| 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 | 50–150 t (55–165 short tons) | ||
| Bryde's whale | Balaenoptera brydei Olsen, 1913 | LC IUCN | 90,000–100,000 | 14–30 t (15–33 short tons) | ||
| Eden's whale | Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879 | LC IUCN | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Common minke whale | Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 | LC IUCN | 200,000 | 2–4 t (2.2–4.4 short tons) | ||
| Rice's whale | 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 | 30–80 t (33–88 short tons) | ||
| Omura's whale | Balaenoptera omurai Wada et al., 2003 | DD IUCN | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Sei whale | Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 | EN IUCN | 80,000 | 20–25 t (22–28 short tons) | ||
| Antarctic minke whale | Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867 | NT IUCN | 515,000 | 6–10 t (6.6–11.0 short tons) | ||
| 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 | 25–30 t (28–33 short tons) | ||
| 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 | 15–40 t (17–44 short tons) |
| 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 | 3–3.5 t (3.3–3.9 short tons) |
Odontoceti: toothed whales
Main article: Toothed whale
Toothed whales, called Odontoceti, have teeth instead of special plates called baleen. They are active hunters and eat fish, squid, and sometimes other sea animals.
Family Delphinidae: oceanic dolphins
See also: Delphinidae
Oceanic dolphins live in open seas, unlike river dolphins. They have special beaks and many teeth in their upper jaws. None of them grow longer than 4 meters.
Family Iniidae: river dolphins
Main article: Iniidae
This family has one group with two kinds of river dolphins.
Family Kogiidae: dwarf and pygmy sperm whales
See also: Kogiidae
Dwarf and pygmy sperm whales look like regular sperm whales but are much smaller. They have special heads and fins.
Family Lipotidae: baiji
Main article: Lipotidae
The Lipotidae family has only the baiji. Scientists think it split from oceanic dolphins a long time ago. The baiji was declared missing in 2006.
Family Monodontidae: narwhal and beluga
See also: Monodontidae
Narwhals and belugas do not have regular dorsal fins. Instead, they have tough ridges on their backs, which helps them swim under ice. Their fins are small and rounded.
Family Phocoenidae: porpoises
See also: Phocoenidae
Porpoises are small sea animals. They look different from dolphins because they have less noticeable beaks and different shaped teeth. Porpoises live in all oceans, from coastal areas to open seas.
Family Physeteridae: sperm whale
See also: Physeteridae
Sperm whales have large, square heads that are about one-third the length of their bodies. They also have a blowhole on the left side of their heads and wrinkled skin.
Family Platanistidae: South Asian river dolphins
Main article: Platanistidae
South Asian river dolphins were once thought to be one kind, but scientists now believe there are two different species.
Family Pontoporiidae: La Plata dolphin
Main article: Pontoporiidae
The La Plata dolphin is the only species in its family. It has a long beak for its small body size and lives near the east coast of South America.
Family Ziphiidae: beaked whales
See also: Ziphiidae
Beaked whales are at least 24 different kinds of whales. They have a special way of feeding and unique features.
| Genus Aethalodelphis Galatius et al., 2025– two species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dusky dolphin | Aethalodelphis obscurus Gray, 1828 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 100 kg (220 lb) | ||
| Pacific white-sided dolphin | Aethalodelphis obliquidens Gill, 1865 | LC IUCN | 1,000,000 | 85–150 kg (187–331 lb) | ||
| Genus Cephalorhynchus Gray, 1846 – six species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Peale's dolphin | Cephalorhynchus australis Peale, 1848 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 115 kg (254 lb) | ||
| Hourglass dolphin | Cephalorhynchus cruciger Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 | LC IUCN | 140,000 | 90–120 kg (200–260 lb) | ||
| Chilean dolphin | Cephalorhynchus eutropia Gray, 1846 | NT IUCN | Unknown | 60 kg (130 lb) | ||
| Commerson's dolphin | Cephalorhynchus commersonii Lacépède, 1804 | LC IUCN | 22,000 | 35–60 kg (77–132 lb) | ||
| Heaviside's dolphin | Cephalorhynchus heavisidii Gray, 1828 | NT IUCN | Unknown | 40–75 kg (88–165 lb) | ||
| Hector's dolphin | Cephalorhynchus hectori Van Beneden, 1881 | EN IUCN (subspecies Maui dolphin CR IUCN) | 7,381 (subspecies Maui dolphin 57–75 in 2016) | 35–60 kg (77–132 lb) | ||
| Genus Delphinus – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Common dolphin | Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 70–150 kg (150–330 lb) | ||
| Genus Feresa – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Pygmy killer whale | Feresa attenuata Gray, 1875 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 160–350 kg (350–770 lb) | ||
| Genus Globicephala – two species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Long-finned pilot whale | Globicephala melas Traill, 1809 | LC IUCN | Unknown | (green) | 1.8–3.5 t (2.0–3.9 short tons) | |
| Short-finned pilot whale | Globicephala macrorhynchus Gray, 1846 | LC IUCN | Unknown | (dark blue) | 1–4 t (1.1–4.4 short tons) | |
| Genus Grampus – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Risso's dolphin | Grampus griseus G. Cuvier, 1812 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 300 kg (660 lb) | ||
| Genus Lagenodelphis – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Fraser's dolphin | Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser, 1956 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 209 kg (461 lb) | ||
| Genus Lagenorhynchus Gray, 1846 – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| White-beaked dolphin | Lagenorhynchus albirostris Gray, 1846 | LC IUCN | 100,000 | 180 kg (400 lb) | ||
| Genus Leucopleurus Gray, 1866 – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Atlantic white-sided dolphin | Leucopleurus acutus Gray, 1828 | LC IUCN | 200,000–300,000 | 235 kg (518 lb) | ||
| 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 | 115 kg (254 lb) | ||
| Southern right whale dolphin | Lissodelphis peronii Lacépède, 1804 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 60–100 kg (130–220 lb) | ||
| 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 | 130–145 kg (287–320 lb) | ||
| Irrawaddy dolphin | Orcaella brevirostris Gray, 1866 | EN IUCN | 78–102 | 130 kg (290 lb) | ||
| Genus Orcinus – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Orca | Orcinus orca Linnaeus, 1758 | DD IUCN | 100,000 | 4.5 t (5.0 short tons) | ||
| Genus Peponocephala – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Melon-headed whale | Peponocephala electra Gray, 1846 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 225 kg (496 lb) | ||
| Genus Pseudorca – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| False killer whale | Pseudorca crassidens Owen, 1846 | NT IUCN | Unknown | 1.5–2 t (1.7–2.2 short tons) | ||
| Genus Sousa – four species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Atlantic humpback dolphin | Sousa teuszii Kükenthal, 1892 | CR IUCN | 1,500 | 100–150 kg (220–330 lb) | ||
| Australian humpback dolphin | Sousa sahulensis Jefferson & Rosenbaum, 2014 | VU IUCN | 10,000 | 230–250 kg (510–550 lb) | ||
| Indian Ocean humpback dolphin | Sousa plumbea Cuvier, 1829 | EN IUCN | Unknown | |||
| Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin | Sousa chinensis Osbeck, 1765 | VU IUCN | Unknown | 250–280 kg (550–620 lb) | ||
| Genus Sotalia – two species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Guiana dolphin | Sotalia guianensis Bénéden, 1864 | NT IUCN | Unknown | 35–45 kg (77–99 lb) | ||
| Tucuxi | Sotalia fluviatilis Gervais & Deville, 1853 | EN IUCN | Unknown | 35–45 kg (77–99 lb) | ||
| 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 | 100 kg | ||
| Clymene dolphin | Stenella clymene Gray, 1846 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 75–80 kg (165–176 lb) | ||
| Pantropical spotted dolphin | Stenella attenuata Gray, 1846 | LC IUCN | 3,000,000 | 100 kg (220 lb) | ||
| Spinner dolphin | Stenella longirostris Gray, 1828 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 90 kg (200 lb) | ||
| Striped dolphin | Stenella coeruleoalba Meyen, 1833 | LC IUCN | 2,000,000 | 100 kg (220 lb) | ||
| Genus Steno – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Rough-toothed dolphin | Steno bredanensis Lesson, 1828 | LC IUCN | 150,000 | 100–135 kg (220–298 lb) | ||
| Genus Tursiops – three species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Common bottlenose dolphin | Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821 | LC IUCN | 600,000 | 150–650 kg (330–1,430 lb) | ||
| Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin | Tursiops aduncus Ehrenberg, 1833 | NT IUCN | Unknown | 230 kg (510 lb) | ||
| Tamanend's bottlenose dolphin | Tursiops erebennus Cope, 1865 | NE | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Genus Inia – two species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon river dolphin | Inia geoffrensis Blainville, 1817 | EN IUCN | Unknown | 150 kg (330 lb) | ||
| Araguaian river dolphin | Inia araguaiaensis Hrbek, Da Silva, Dutra, Farias, 2014 | NE | Unknown | Araguaian river dolphin in blue | 150 kg (330 lb) |
| Genus Kogia – two species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarf sperm whale | Kogia sima Owen, 1866 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 250 kg (550 lb) | ||
| Pygmy sperm whale | Kogia breviceps Blainville, 1838 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 400 kg (880 lb) |
| Genus Delphinapterus – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beluga | Delphinapterus leucas Pallas, 1776 | LC IUCN | 136,000 | 1.5 t (1.7 short tons) | ||
| Genus Monodon – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Narwhal | Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758 | LC IUCN | 123,000 | 900–1,500 kg (2,000–3,300 lb) | ||
| Genus Neophocaena – two or three species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indo-Pacific finless porpoise | Neophocaena phocaenoidesCuvier, 1829 | VU IUCN | Unknown | 30–45 kg (66–99 lb) | ||
| Yangtze finless porpoise | Neophocaena asiaeorientalisCuvier, 1829 | EN IUCN (subspecies Yangtze finless porpoise CR IUCN) | Unknown (subspecies Yangtze finless porpoise 1,012 in 2018) | 30–45 kg (66–99 lb) | ||
| Genus Phocoena – four species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Burmeister's porpoise | Phocoena spinipinnisBurmeister, 1865 | NT IUCN | Unknown | 50–75 kg (110–165 lb) | ||
| Harbour porpoise | Phocoena phocoenaLinnaeus, 1758 | LC IUCN | 700,000 | 75 kg (165 lb) | ||
| Spectacled porpoise | Phocoena dioptricaLahille, 1912 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 60–84 kg (132–185 lb) | ||
| Vaquita | Phocoena sinusNorris & McFarland, 1958 | CR IUCN | 12 | 50 kg (110 lb) | ||
| Genus Phocoenoides – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Dall's porpoise | Phocoenoides dalliTrue, 1885 | LC IUCN | 1,100,000 | 130–200 kg (290–440 lb) |
| 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 | 25–50 t (28–55 short tons) | ||
| Genus Platanista – two species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ganges river dolphin | Platanista gangetica (Lebeck, 1801) | EN IUCN | 3,500 | (orange) | 200 kg (440 lb) | |
| Indus river dolphin | Platanista minor Owen, 1853 | EN IUCN | 1,450 | (blue) | 200 kg (440 lb) |
| 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 | 50 kg (110 lb) |
| Genus Berardius – three species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnoux's beaked whale | Berardius arnuxii Duvernoy, 1851 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 6-10 t (6.6-11 short tons) | ||
| Baird's beaked whale | Berardius bairdii Stejneger, 1883 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 8-13 t (8.8-14 short tons) | ||
| Sato's beaked whale | Berardius minimus Yamada et al., 2019 | NT IUCN | Unknown | North Pacific | c. ~2-3 t (2.2-3.3 short tons) | |
| Genus Tasmacetus – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Shepherd's beaked whale | Tasmacetus shepherdi Oliver, 1937 | DD IUCN | Unknown | 2-3.2 t (2.2-3.5 short tons) | ||
| 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 | 2–3 t (2.2–3.3 short tons) | ||
| 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 | 5–10 t (5.5–11.0 short tons) | ||
| Southern bottlenose whale | Hyperoodon planifrons Flower, 1882 | LC IUCN | 500,000 | 6 t (6.6 short tons) | ||
| Genus Indopacetus – one species | ||||||
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Population | Distribution | Size | Picture |
| Tropical bottlenose whale | Indopacetus pacificus Longman, 1926 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 3.5–4 t (3.9–4.4 short tons) | ||
| 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 | 1 t (1.1 short tons) | ||
| Blainville's beaked whale | Mesoplodon densirostris Blainville, 1817 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 0.8-1 t (0.9-1.1 short tons) | ||
| Deraniyagala's beaked whale | Mesoplodon hotaula P. E. P. Deraniyagala, 1963 | DD IUCN | Unknown | Indian and South Pacific | 4–5 m (13–16 ft) | [cetacean needed] |
| Gervais' beaked whale | Mesoplodon europaeus Gervais, 1855 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 0.8-1.2 t (0.9-1.3 short tons) | ||
| Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale | Mesoplodon ginkgodens Nishiwaki & Kamiya, 1958 | DD IUCN | Unknown | 1-2 t (1.1-2.2 short tons) | ||
| Gray's beaked whale | Mesoplodon grayi von Haast, 1876 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 1.5 t (1.7 short tons) | ||
| Hector's beaked whale | Mesoplodon hectori Gray, 1871 | DD IUCN | Unknown | 1 t (1.1 short tons) | ||
| Hubbs' beaked whale | Mesoplodon carlhubbsi Moore, 1963 | DD IUCN | Unknown | 1.4 t (1.5 short tons) | ||
| Perrin's beaked whale | Mesoplodon perrini Dalebout, Mead, Baker, Baker, & van Helding, 2002 | EN IUCN | 500–1,164 | North Pacific | 1.3–1.5 t (1.4–1.7 short tons) | |
| Pygmy beaked whale | Mesoplodon peruvianus Reyes, Mead, and Van Waerebeek, 1991 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 800 kg (1,800 lb) | ||
| Ramari's beaked whale | Mesoplodon eueu Carroll et al, 2021 | DD IUCN | Unknown | (red circle) | Unknown | |
| Sowerby's beaked whale | Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby, 1804 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 1–1.3 t (1.1–1.4 short tons) | ||
| Spade-toothed whale | Mesoplodon traversii, syn. Mesoplodon bahamondi Gray, 1874 | DD IUCN | Unknown | 1.2 t (1.3 short tons) | ||
| Stejneger's beaked whale | Mesoplodon stejnegeri True, 1885 | NT IUCN | Unknown | 1.5 t (1.7 short tons) | ||
| Strap-toothed whale | Mesoplodon layardii Gray, 1865 | LC IUCN | Unknown | 2 t (2.2 short tons) | ||
| True's beaked whale | Mesoplodon mirus True, 1913 | LC IUCN | Unknown | (North Atlantic only; map includes range of M. eueu in Indian Ocean) | 1.4 t (1.5 short tons) |
Related articles
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