Cetaceans

Cetaceans are marine mammals that are specially adapted for life in water, with streamlined bodies and flipper-like forelimbs. In this article, we'll explore basic facts about cetaceans including how they are classified, what they eat, where they live and the characteristics that make them different from other mammal groups.

Baleen whales are one of two main groups of cetaceans, the other being the toothed whales. In this article, we'll explore basic facts about baleen whales including how they are classified, what they eat, where they live and the characteristics that make them different from other cetacean groups.

Toothed whales, as their name implies, have teeth, a characteristic that distinguishes them from their baleen whales. In this article, we'll explore basic facts about toothed whales including how they are classified, what they eat, where they live and the characteristics that make them different from other cetacean groups.

Learn interesting facts about dolphins and find out about the characteristics make them different from other mammal groups, their life cycle and their evolutionary history.

The Atlantic white-sided dolphin is named for its coloration. This species has a black dorsal region that fades to gray along its sides and a distinctive white coloration running along its ventral surface most of the length of its body.

The magnificent blue whale is our planet's largest animal, reaching lengths of 66 to 98 feet and weights of 110 to 176 tons. Blue whales belong to the group of whales know as the baleen whales.

The bottlenose dolphin belongs to the Family Delphinidae, the largest family of Cetaceans which includes killer whales, pilot whales, and other dolphins.

The common dolphin grows to lengths of 2.3m-3.6m (7.5ft-8.5ft) and weights of up to 80kg (175lb). Common dolphins are colorful with a characteristic hourglass-shaped pattern on their sides.

The dusky dolphin is a medium sized dolphin, growing to lengths of 5.5 to 7 feet and weights of 150 to 185 pounds. It has a sloping face with no dominant beak nose. It is dark gray (or dark blue-gray) on its back and white on its belly.

Gray whales are cetaceans that belong to the Suborder Mysticeti, the Baleen whales. Baleen whales, also called filter-feeding whales, have 2 sets of plates that extend from the upper jaw and enable the animal to filter food from the oceans in which it swims.

The Irrawaddy dolphin inhabits coastal waters, brackish estuaries and freshwater rivers in Australaisia and Southeast Asia. This endangered dolphin is pale gray and grows to lengths of 2-2.75 meters. It has a round head and no beak and is occassionally mistaken for a beluga whale or a porpoise.

The northern bottlenose whale is a beaked whale that has a gray body, dark brown to gray tail, and a light forehead and a small beak.

Orcas, also known as killer whales, belong to the Order Cetacea, a group of marine mammals that includes whales and dolphins.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises, collectively referred to as cetaceans, are difficult to observe in the wild. They spend most of their time fully submerged and without a boat, an oxygen tank, and diving certificate, you're bound to miss out on the majority of their activities.