List of cetaceans

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)

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. 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.

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

Conventions

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).

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).

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.

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.

Common name	Scientific name	IUCN Red List status	Global population estimate	Range	Size	Picture
Genus Balaena Linnaeus, 1758 – one species
Bowhead whale	Balaena mysticetus Linnaeus, 1758	LC^IUCN	10,000		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)

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. All rorquals have these unique folds.

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Subfamily Balaenopteridae – one genus, nine species
Genus Balaenoptera – nine species
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)

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 quarter the size of their bodies, whereas the right whales' heads are about one-third the size of their bodies. The pygmy right whale is the only extant member of its family.

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

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.

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.

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Genus Cephalorhynchus Gray, 1846 – four species
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 – six 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)
Atlantic white-sided dolphin	Lagenorhynchus acutus Gray, 1828	LC^IUCN	200,000 – 300,000^{[citation needed]}		235 kg (518 lb)
Dusky dolphin	Lagenorhynchus obscurus Gray, 1828	LC^IUCN	Unknown		100 kg (220 lb)
Hourglass dolphin	Lagenorhynchus cruciger Quoy & Gaimard, 1824	LC^IUCN	140,000		90–120 kg (200–260 lb)
Pacific white-sided dolphin	Lagenorhynchus obliquidens Gill, 1865	LC^IUCN	1,000,000		85–150 kg (187–331 lb)
Peale's dolphin	Lagenorhynchus australis Peale, 1848	LC^IUCN	Unknown		115 kg (254 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	Unknown		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
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	Solid color	35–45 kg (77–99 lb)
Tucuxi	Sotalia fluviatilis Gervais & Deville, 1853	EN^IUCN	Unknown	Hashed color	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^{[citation needed]}		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^{[citation needed]}		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^{[citation needed]}		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
Tamanend's bottlenose dolphin	Tursiops erebennus Cope, 1865	NE	Unknown			[cetacean needed]

Family Iniidae: river dolphins

This family contains one genus with two species.

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size
Genus Inia – two species
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)

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.

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Size
Genus Kogia – two species
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)

Family Lipotidae: baiji

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

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Genus Lipotes – one species
Baiji	Lipotes vexillifer Miller, 1918	CR^IUCN	0-13		130 kg (290 lb)

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.

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Genus Delphinapterus – one species
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)

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.

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).

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Genus Neophocaena – two or three species
Indo-Pacific finless porpoise	Neophocaena phocaenoides Cuvier, 1829	VU^IUCN	Unknown		30–45 kg (66–99 lb)
Narrow-ridged finless porpoise	Neophocaena asiaeorientalis Cuvier, 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 spinipinnis Burmeister, 1865	NT^IUCN	Unknown		50–75 kg (110–165 lb)
Harbour porpoise	Phocoena phocoena Linnaeus, 1758	LC^IUCN	700,000		75 kg (165 lb)
Spectacled porpoise	Phocoena dioptrica Lahille, 1912	LC^IUCN	Unknown		60–84 kg (132–185 lb)
Vaquita	Phocoena sinus Norris & 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 dalli True, 1885	LC^IUCN	1,100,000		130–200 kg (290–440 lb)

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.

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Genus Physeter – one species
Sperm whale	Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758	VU^IUCN	200,000–2,000,000		25–50 t (28–55 short tons)

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. However, more recent studies support them being distinct species.

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size
Genus Platanista – two species
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	1450	(blue)	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.

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

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).

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Genus Berardius – three species
Arnoux's beaked whale	Berardius arnuxii Duvernoy, 1851	LC^IUCN	Unknown		8 t (8.8 short tons)
Baird's beaked whale	Berardius bairdii Stejneger, 1883	LC^IUCN	Unknown		12 t (13 short tons)
Sato's beaked whale	Berardius minimus Yamada et al., 2019	NT^IUCN	Unknown	North Pacific	Unknown
Genus Tasmacetus – one species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Shepherd's beaked whale	Tasmacetus shepherdi Oliver, 1937	DD^IUCN	Unknown		2–2.5 t (2.2–2.8 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		7 t (7.7 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
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		1.2 t (1.3 short tons)
Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale	Mesoplodon ginkgodens Nishiwaki & Kamiya, 1958	DD^IUCN	Unknown		1.5 t (1.7 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		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)

Footnotes

References

External links

CMS Small Cetaceans