List of cetacean species

For extinct cetaceans, see List of extinct cetaceans.

Cetacea is an infraorder that comprises the 89 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It is divided into toothed whales (Odontoceti) and baleen whales (Mysticeti), which diverged from each other some time in the Eocene 26 to 17 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 mesonychids, 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 (3 species)
EN	Endangered (10 species)
VU	Vulnerable (7 species)
NT	Near threatened (6 species)
LC	Least concern (37 species)
Other categories
DD	Data deficient (27 species)
NE	Not evaluated (3 species)

The following is a list of existing (extant) species of the infraorder cetacea, 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

Main article: Baleen whale

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

See also: Balaenidae

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	12,682–39,950		60 t (66 short tons)
Genus Eubalaena Gray, 1864 – 3 species
Common name	Scientific name	IUCN Red List status	Global population estimate	Range	Size	Picture
North Atlantic right whale	Eubalaena glacialis Müller, 1776	EN IUCN	300-350		40–80 t (44–88 short tons)
North Pacific right whale	Eubalaena japonica Lacépède, 1818	EN IUCN	404-2,108 [12]		60–80 t (66–88 short tons)
Southern right whale	Eubalaena australis Desmoulins, 1822	LC IUCN	7,500		40–80 t (44–88 short tons)

Family Balaenopteridae: rorquals

See also: Rorqual

Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two 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. ^[13] All rorquals have these unique folds. ^[11]

Subfamily Balaenopteridae – one genus, eight species
Genus Balaenoptera – eight species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Blue whale	Balaenoptera musculus Linnaeus, 1758	EN IUCN	10,000–25,000		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)
Common minke whale	Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804	LC IUCN	200,000		6–11 t (6.6–12.1 short tons)
Eden's whale [lower-alpha 1]	Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879	LC IUCN	Unknown		Unknown
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	57,000		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)
Subfamily Megapterinae – 1 genus, 1 species
Genus Megaptera Gray, 1846 – 1 species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Humpback whale	Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781	LC IUCN	80,000		25–30 t (28–33 short tons)

Family Cetotheriidae: pygmy right whale

See also: Cetotheriidae

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 – 1 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)

Family Eschrichtiidae: gray whale

See also: Eschrichtiidae

Eschrichtiidae only has one living member: the gray whale. It is the only benthic feeding baleen whale, filtering small organisms from the mud of shallow seas. They also have a gestation period of over a year, which is unusual for baleen whales. ^[11]

Genus Eschrichtius – 1 species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Gray whale	Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg, 1861	LC IUCN	26,000		15–40 t (17–44 short tons)

Odontoceti: toothed whales

Main article: Odontoceti

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. ^[15]

Family Delphinidae: oceanic dolphins

See also: Delphinidae

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		60 kg (130 lb)
Commerson's dolphin	Cephalorhynchus commersonii Lacépède, 1804	LC IUCN	3,400		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 Māui dolphin CR IUCN )	12,000–18,500 (subspecies Māui dolphin 57–75 in 2016)		35–60 kg (77–132 lb)
Genus Delphinus – three species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Arabian common dolphin [lower-alpha 2]	Delphinus tropicalis van Bree, 1971	NE	Unknown		65–105 kg
Long-beaked common dolphin [lower-alpha 3]	Delphinus capensis Gray, 1828	DD IUCN	Unknown [lower-alpha 4]		80–150 kg (180–330 lb)
Short-beaked common dolphin	Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758	LC IUCN	Unknown		70–110 kg (150–240 lb)
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 5]		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 [lower-alpha 6]		3–3.5 t (3.3–3.9 short tons)
Short-finned pilot whale	Globicephala macrorhynchus Gray, 1846	LC IUCN	Unknown [lower-alpha 7]		1–3 t (1.1–3.3 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 [lower-alpha 8]		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
Atlantic white-sided dolphin	Lagenorhynchus acutus Gray, 1828	LC IUCN	200,000 – 300,000		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 [lower-alpha 9]		115 kg (254 lb)
White-beaked dolphin	Lagenorhynchus albirostris Gray, 1846	LC IUCN	100,000 [lower-alpha 10]		180 kg (400 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 [lower-alpha 11]		115 kg (254 lb)
Southern right whale dolphin	Lissodelphis peronii Lacépède, 1804	LC IUCN	Unknown [lower-alpha 12]		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
Killer whale	Orcinus orca Linnaeus, 1758	DD IUCN	100,000 [lower-alpha 13]		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 [lower-alpha 14]		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 [lower-alpha 15]		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 teuszi 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	DD 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		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
Burrunan dolphin [lower-alpha 16]	Tursiops australis Charlton-Robb, 2011	NE	Unknown
Common bottlenose dolphin	Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821	LC IUCN	600,000 [16]		150–650 kg (330–1,430 lb)
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin	Tursiops aduncus Ehrenberg, 1833	DD IUCN	Unknown		230 kg

Family Monodontidae: narwhal and beluga

See also: Monodontidae

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	100,000 [lower-alpha 17]		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	25,000 [lower-alpha 18]		900–1,500 kg (2,000–3,300 lb)

Family Kogiidae: dwarf and pygmy sperm whales

See also: Kogiidae

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. ^[17] They c

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

Family Phocoenidae: porpoises

See also: Phocoenidae

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. ^[18]

Porpoises, divided into seven species, live in all oceans, mostly near the shore.

Genus Neophocaena – two species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Indo-pacific finless porpoise	Neophocaena phocaenoides Cuvier, 1829	VU IUCN [lower-alpha 21]	Unknown [lower-alpha 22]		30–45 kg (66–99 lb)
Narrow-ridged finless porpoise	Neophocaena asiaeorientalis Cuvier, 1829	EN IUCN [lower-alpha 23]	1,000		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 [lower-alpha 24]		50–75 kg (110–165 lb)	(cetacean needed)
Harbour porpoise	Phocoena phocoena Linnaeus, 1758	LC IUCN	700,000 [19]		75 kg
Spectacled porpoise	Phocoena dioptrica Lahille, 1912	LC IUCN	Unknown [lower-alpha 25]		60–84 kg (132–185 lb)	(cetacean needed)
Vaquita	Phocoena sinus Norris & McFarland, 1958	CR IUCN	12 [20]		50 kg (110 lb)
Genus Phocoenoides – 1 species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Dall's porpoise	Phocoenoides dalli True, 1885	LC IUCN	1,100,000 [lower-alpha 26]		130–200 kg (290–440 lb)

Family Physeteridae: sperm whale

See also: Physeteridae

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 27]		25–50 t (28–55 short tons)

Family Ziphiidae: beaked whales

See also: Ziphiidae

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 – two species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Arnoux's beaked whale	Berardius arnuxii Duvernoy, 1851	DD IUCN	Unknown [lower-alpha 28]		8 t (8.8 short tons)
Baird's beaked whale	Berardius bairdii Stejneger, 1883	DD IUCN	Unknown [lower-alpha 29]		12 t (13 short tons)	(cetacean needed)
Berardius minimus	Berardius minimus Yamada et al., 2019	NE	Unknown			(cetacean needed)
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 30]		2–2.5 t (2.2–2.8 short tons)	(cetacean needed)
Genus Ziphius – one species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Cuvier's beaked whale	Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuvier, 1823	LC	Unknown [lower-alpha 31]		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	DD IUCN	10,000 [lower-alpha 32]		7 t (7.7 short tons)
Southern bottlenose whale	Hyperoodon planifrons Flower, 1882	LC IUCN	500,000		6 t (6.6 short tons)	(cetacean needed)
Genus Indopacetus – one species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
Tropical bottlenose whale	Indopacetus pacificus Longman, 1926	DD IUCN	Unknown [lower-alpha 33]		3.5–4 t (3.9–4.4 short tons)	(cetacean needed)
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	DD 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	DD 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	DD 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)	(cetacean needed)
Perrin's beaked whale	Mesoplodon perrini Dalebout, Mead, Baker, Baker, & van Helding, 2002	DD IUCN	Unknown		1.3–1.5 t (1.4–1.7 short tons)	(cetacean needed)
Pygmy beaked whale	Mesoplodon peruvianus Reyes, Mead, and Van Waerebeek, 1991	DD IUCN	Unknown		800 kg (1,800 lb)	(cetacean needed)
Sowerby's beaked whale	Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby, 1804	DD 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)	(cetacean needed)
Stejneger's beaked whale	Mesoplodon stejnegeri True, 1885	DD IUCN	Unknown		1.5 t (1.7 short tons)
Strap-toothed whale	Mesoplodon layardii Gray, 1865	DD IUCN	Unknown		2 t (2.2 short tons)
True's beaked whale	Mesoplodon mirus True, 1913	DD IUCN	Unknown		1.4 t (1.5 short tons)

Superfamily Platanistoidea: river dolphins

See also: Platanistoidea

River dolphins are the five cetaceans which reside in freshwater rivers and estuaries. These were all previously classified in the superfamily Platanistoidea, but the superfamily is now recognized as paraphyletic and invalid. ^[21]

Family Iniidae: river dolphins

Main article: Iniidae

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		150 kg (330 lb)
Araguaian river dolphin [lower-alpha 34]	Inia araguaiaensis Hrbek, Da Silva, Dutra, Farias, 2014	NE	Unknown	Araguaian river dolphin in blue	150 kg (330 lb)

Family Lipotidae: baiji

Main article: Lipotidae

The family Lipotidae contains only the baiji. DNA evidence suggests it separated from oceanic dolphins about 25 million years ago. ^[22] 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 35]		130 kg (290 lb)

Family Platanistidae: South Asian river dolphin

Main article: Platanistidae

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. ^[23] However, these were demoted to subspecies in 1988. ^[21]

Genus Platanista – one species
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Population	Distribution	Size	Picture
South Asian river dolphin	Platanista gangetica Roxburgh, 1801	EN IUCN	1,100 [lower-alpha 36]		200 kg (440 lb)

Family Pontoporiidae: La Plata dolphin

Main article: Pontoporiidae

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. ^[24]

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)

See also

• Cetaceans portal

• List of cetacean genera
• List of marine mammal species
• List of whale vocalizations
• Evolution of cetaceans
• List of extinct cetaceans
• Archaeoceti
• Mammal classification

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. ^[14]
2. As of August 2018, the Arabian common dolphin is considered a subspecies of the common dolphin by the Society for Marine Mammalogy ^[14]
3. As of August 2018, the Society for Marine Mammalogy considers the long-beaked common dolphin as an ecologically-induced form of the short-beaked dolphin based on molecular evidence. The Eastern North Pacific long-beaked dolphin population may be a unique species D. bairdii ^[14]
4. The total population is unknown but numbers in the hundreds of thousands
5. The only population estimate is of 38,900 individuals in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. Total population unknown but thought to be locally common – it is the most common dolphin found around the Falkland Islands
10. Estimates of various stocks throughout the North Atlantic give an overall value into the high tens or low hundreds of thousands
11. Varying population estimates for areas around California and the North Pacific give a total of up to 400,000
12. Surveys suggest this is the most common dolphin off of Chilean waters
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. As of August 2018, the Society for Marine Mammalogy does not consider the Burrunan dolphin a distinct species due to problematic methodology in the study proposing its classification. The organization recommends further study to determine its validity. ^[14]
17. 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
18. Aerial surveys suggest a population of around 20,000 individuals. When submerged animals are also taken into account, the true figure may be in excess of 25,000
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. There is not enough data to place finless porpoises on the endangered species list
22. 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
23. In China, they are endangered. Their propensity for staying close to shore places them in great danger from fishing
24. There are no quantitative data on abundance
25. 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
26. The most recent estimate for the North Pacific and Bering Sea is 1,186,000
27. 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
28. Arnoux's beaked whales seem to be relatively abundant in Cook Strait during summer
29. Virtually nothing is known about the abundance of Baird's beaked whales, except they are not rare as was formerly thought
30. Nothing is known about the relative abundance of this species or its population composition
31. Because of the difficulty of identifying the species the total global population is unknown
32. Total population is unknown but likely to be of the order of 10,000
33. A 2002 survey estimates there are 766 animals around Hawaii. No other population estimates exist for other locales
34. As of August 2018, the Araguaian river dolphin is not recognized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy, which cites small sample size ^[14]
35. 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
36. Estimates give values of 1,100 Indus river dolphins and maybe as few as 20 Ganges river dolphins

References

1. Jamieson, Barrie G. M. (2016-04-19). Miller, Debra L. (ed.). Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Cetaceans. Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny. 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.
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.
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. "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. 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.Missing or empty |url= (help)
13. Goldbogen, Jeremy A. (2010). "The Ultimate Mouthful: Lunge Feeding in Rorqual Whales". American Scientist. 98 (2): 124–131. doi:10.1511/2010.83.124.
14. "List of Marine Mammal Species and Subspecies". Society for Marine Mammalogy. May 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
15. 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.
16. "Common Bottlenose Dolphin". WWF. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
17. 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.
18. "What's the difference between dolphins and porpoises?". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved 5 December 2019.
19. 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.
20. Hoffner, Erik (2018-03-08). "Only 12 vaquita porpoises remain, watchdog group reports". Mongabay. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
21. Rice, DW (1998). Marine mammals of the world: Systematics and distribution. Society for Marine Mammalogy. pp. 92–95. ISBN   978-1-891276-03-3.
22. 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). doi:10.1038/ncomms3708. PMC   3826649 . PMID   24169659.
23. Pilleri, G., Marcuzzi, G. and Pilleri, O., 1982. Speciation in the Platanistoidea, systematic, zoogeographical and ecological observations on recent species. Investigations on Cetacea, 14: 15–46.
24. "National Marine Mammal Laboratory - La Plata Dolphins". Alaska Fisheries Science Center - NOAA Fisheries. NOAA Fisheries. Retrieved 18 March 2019.

Further reading

• Rice, Dale W. (1998). Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Society of Marine Mammalogy, Special Publication No. 4. ISBN   1891276034.
• Mead, J.G.; Brownell, R. L. Jr. (2005). "Order Cetacea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 723–743. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
• "Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN. Archived from the original on 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2006-11-09.
• Carwardine, M., Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Dorling Kindersley, 2000. ISBN   978-0-7513-2781-6.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cetacea .

Wikispecies has information related to Cetacea

The Wikibook Dichotomous Key has a page on the topic of: Cetacea

• Society for Marine Mammalogy's Taxonomy Committee List of Marine Mammal Species and subspecies
• CMS Small Cetaceans