list of dolphins, whales, and porpoises

Cetaceans (order Cetacea) are an order of marine mammals (with a few freshwater species) comprising the whales, the dolphins, and the porpoises. The ancient Greeks recognized that cetaceans breathe air, give birth to live young, produce milk, and have hair—all features of mammals. Because of their body form, however, cetaceans were once commonly (and incorrectly) grouped with the fishes. This is a list of cetaceans arranged alphabetically by suborder and family. (See also biology; mammalogy; marine biology; zoology.)

baleen whales (suborder Mysticeti)

• gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
• pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata)
• right whales (genera Balaena and Eubalaena)
• rorquals (genera Balaenoptera and Megaptera)

  • blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
  • fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
  • humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
  • sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)

toothed whales (suborder Odontoceti)

• beaked whales (multiple genera)

  • bottlenose whales (genera Berardius and Hyperoodon)
• beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)
• dolphins (family Delphinidae)

  • bottlenose dolphin (genus Tursiops)
  • grampus (Grampus griseus)
  • killer whale (Orcinus orca)
  • pilot whales (genus Globicephala)
• dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)
• Indian river dolphins (genus Platanista)
• narwhal (Monodon monoceros)
• porpoises (genera Neophocaena, Phocoena, and Phocoenoides)

  • vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
• pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)
• South American river dolphins (genera Inia and Pontoporia)
• sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

extinct cetaceans

• genus Basilosaurus
• Llanocetus denticrenatus
• genus Pakicetus
• genus Simocetus