The Complete List of Cetaceans

From coastal shallows and estuaries to the open ocean and inland rivers, the planet’s waters support a wide variety of marine mammals with different habits and habitats. This list brings that diversity together so you can see how species compare side by side.

There are 92 Cetaceans, ranging from Amazon River Dolphin to Yangtze Finless Porpoise. For each species, you’ll find below the data organized as Scientific name,Max length (m),Range (ocean/regions) so you can quickly scan identity, size, and distribution.

How current is this list and why do counts change?

Species counts shift as researchers revise classifications, split populations, or discover new populations; this list reflects 92 recognized entries at the time of compilation and groups both oceanic and freshwater forms to show full diversity.

How should I use the Scientific name, Max length (m), and Range columns in practice?

Use the Scientific name for precise ID, compare Max length (m) against observed size to narrow possibilities, and check Range (ocean/regions) to rule out species not known from your location — together they make field identification and further research much faster.

Cetaceans

Images and Descriptions

Blue Whale

The largest animal on Earth, this baleen whale filter-feeds almost exclusively on tiny krill. It communicates using powerful, low-frequency sounds that travel for hundreds of miles. Critically endangered by 20th-century whaling, its populations are slowly recovering under global protection.

Fin Whale

The second-largest animal, known as the “greyhound of the sea” for its speed. It has unique asymmetrical coloring, with a white lower jaw on the right side. This filter-feeder eats krill, small fish, and squid. It is listed as vulnerable due to past whaling.

Sei Whale

A fast-swimming baleen whale that often skims the surface for copepods and krill. Unlike other rorquals, it rarely breaches. Its population was heavily depleted by commercial whaling, and the species is now endangered and faces threats from ship strikes.

Bryde’s Whale

A medium-sized baleen whale that primarily eats schooling fish, often lunging through dense shoals. Unlike most baleen whales, it doesn’t undertake long migrations and stays in warm waters year-round. It is named after Johan Bryde, a Norwegian whaler.

Eden’s Whale

A smaller baleen whale closely related to Bryde’s whale, inhabiting coastal and shelf waters. It primarily feeds on schooling fish and crustaceans. Its taxonomy is complex and was only recently separated from the Bryde’s whale complex. Little is known about its population status.

Omura’s Whale

A small, rare rorqual whale first identified as a unique species in 2003. It has distinctive asymmetrical head coloration like the fin whale. This elusive whale feeds on krill and small fish. Its population size and conservation status are largely unknown.

Common Minke Whale

One of the smallest baleen whales, recognized by a distinct white band on each flipper. It feeds on krill and small schooling fish. Minke whales are known for being curious and may approach boats. Some populations are still subject to commercial whaling.

Antarctic Minke Whale

Slightly larger than its northern counterpart, this whale lacks the white flipper band. It filter-feeds on Antarctic krill near the pack ice. It is a primary target of Japanese scientific whaling, a practice widely criticized by conservation groups.

Humpback Whale

Famous for its spectacular breaching and complex songs, this baleen whale feeds on krill and small fish. It undertakes long migrations from polar feeding grounds to tropical breeding waters. Populations are recovering from whaling but face threats from entanglement and ship strikes.

Gray Whale

Known for its long migration along the North American west coast. A unique bottom-feeder, it scoops sediment to filter out small crustaceans. Its skin is covered in barnacles and whale lice. The Atlantic population was hunted to extinction centuries ago.

North Atlantic Right Whale

One of the most endangered large whales, with fewer than 360 individuals remaining. They are slow-moving skim-feeders. A notable trait is the large callosities on their head. Ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement are the primary causes of their decline.

North Pacific Right Whale

Critically endangered and extremely rare, with possibly fewer than a few hundred individuals. Like other right whales, they are slow-moving skim-feeders of copepods. They were decimated by whaling and now face threats from marine traffic and entanglement.

Southern Right Whale

A large, robust baleen whale with distinctive head callosities. They are known for “sailing” with their flukes in the wind. This skim-feeder migrates to sheltered coastal bays to breed and calve. Populations are slowly recovering from historical whaling.

Bowhead Whale

An arctic specialist with the thickest blubber of any whale and a massive skull used to break sea ice. It can live over 200 years, making it one of the longest-living mammals. It filter-feeds on small crustaceans. Some populations remain endangered.

Pygmy Right Whale

The smallest and most enigmatic of the baleen whales. It is rarely seen at sea, and much of what is known comes from stranded individuals. It has a distinctly arched jawline and feeds on copepods. Its evolutionary relationships are still debated.

Sperm Whale

The largest toothed whale, with a massive head containing the spermaceti organ. It is a deep-diving predator that hunts giant squid in the ocean depths. Known for its powerful clicks, the loudest sounds produced by any animal. Hunted for its oil, it is now vulnerable.

Pygmy Sperm Whale

A small, elusive whale that is rarely seen at sea. It can eject a cloud of reddish-brown intestinal fluid when startled to deter predators. It dives deep to hunt squid and crabs near the seafloor. It is threatened by plastic ingestion and entanglement.

Dwarf Sperm Whale

The smallest whale species, slightly smaller than its pygmy relative. It also expels a defensive “ink” cloud when threatened. It prefers shelf-edge waters and feeds on deep-water squid and fish. Its secretive nature makes population assessment difficult.

Baird’s Beaked Whale

The largest of the beaked whales, found in deep offshore waters. It has a prominent bulbous forehead and a long beak with two pairs of protruding teeth in males. They are social animals, often seen in tight groups, and feed on deep-sea fish and squid.

Arnoux’s Beaked Whale

The Southern Hemisphere counterpart to Baird’s beaked whale, very similar in appearance. It inhabits deep, cold waters near Antarctica. Little is known about this elusive species, but it is believed to feed on squid and deep-sea fish.

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Holds the record for the deepest and longest dives among mammals, exceeding 2,900 meters. It has a short beak and a unique coloration that varies among individuals. This elusive whale feeds on deep-sea squid and is sensitive to naval sonar.

Northern Bottlenose Whale

A deep-diving whale with a dolphin-like beak and a prominent, bulging forehead, especially in older males. It is a social and curious animal, known to approach vessels. Commercial whaling severely depleted its numbers, but populations are recovering.

Southern Bottlenose Whale

The Antarctic counterpart to the northern bottlenose whale. It lives in cold, deep offshore waters and is rarely seen. It has a distinct bulbous forehead and primarily feeds on squid. Its population status is poorly understood due to its remote habitat.

Shepherd’s Beaked Whale

One of the rarest and least-known beaked whales. Uniquely for a beaked whale, it has a full set of small, functional teeth in both jaws, in addition to the male’s typical tusks. It is believed to prey on fish and squid.

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

One of the first beaked whales to be described. It has a long, slender beak, and males have a pair of teeth that erupt midway along the jaw. This elusive whale inhabits deep offshore waters, preying on squid and small fish.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Possesses the largest and densest bones known in any animal, referring to the males’ bizarre, heavily ossified beaks. These are used for fighting. The species inhabits deep waters and hunts squid. It is threatened by loud anthropogenic noise.

Hubbs’ Beaked Whale

A rare species known mostly from strandings. Males have a high, arching jawline with prominent teeth erupting near the tip of the beak. They inhabit deep offshore waters and are presumed to feed on squid. Its conservation status is unknown.

Andrews’ Beaked Whale

An extremely rare beaked whale known from only a handful of specimens. Males have broad, flat teeth at the tip of the jaw. It lives in deep oceanic waters, and virtually nothing is known about its behavior or population status.

Gervais’ Beaked Whale

A slender, medium-sized beaked whale primarily found in the western North Atlantic. It has a relatively small head and a long beak. This deep-diving species feeds on squid and is known mostly from strandings. It is vulnerable to noise pollution.

Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale

Named for the unique ginkgo-leaf shape of the males’ teeth. This is a poorly known species, rarely seen alive. It lives in deep offshore waters, likely feeding on squid. Its population trends and threats are largely a mystery.

Gray’s Beaked Whale

Distinguished by its very long, narrow white beak and, uniquely among its genus, a visible row of small teeth in the upper jaw. They are deep divers, preying on squid. Though rarely seen, they appear to be more social than other Mesoplodon species.

Hector’s Beaked Whale

One of the smallest and least-known beaked whales. For decades, the species was known only from a few specimens, with a North Pacific population later identified as Perrin’s beaked whale. It feeds on squid in deep oceanic waters.

Strap-toothed Whale

Males have remarkable teeth that grow up and over the upper jaw, restricting how wide they can open their mouths. This does not prevent them from feeding effectively on squid via suction. They are rarely seen and live in deep offshore waters.

True’s Beaked Whale

A tale of two populations, one in the North Atlantic and another in the southern Indian and Pacific Oceans. This beaked whale has a short beak and a small melon. It is a deep-diving squid-eater, rarely sighted at sea.

Pygmy Beaked Whale

The smallest of the beaked whales, discovered in 1991. It has a short beak and is found in deep waters off the coasts of Peru and elsewhere in the Eastern Pacific. It is presumed to feed on deep-sea squid and fish.

Stejneger’s Beaked Whale

Also known as the “saber-toothed whale” due to the large, flattened tusks of the males. It inhabits the cold, deep waters of the Bering Sea and subarctic Pacific. It is a reclusive species, believed to prey on squid.

Perrin’s Beaked Whale

First described as a new species in 2002, entirely from stranded specimens. No confirmed live sightings have been made. It is closely related to the pygmy beaked whale and is presumed to be a deep-diving squid specialist.

Deraniyagala’s Beaked Whale

This species was only formally recognized in 2014 after genetic analysis distinguished it from the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale. It is known from only a few strandings across the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its biology is virtually unknown.

Ramari’s Beaked Whale

Formally described in 2021, this species was previously considered a population of True’s beaked whale. Named in honor of a Māori whale expert, it inhabits deep temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere. Little is known of its ecology.

Amazon River Dolphin

Known as the “boto” or “pink river dolphin,” it is the largest river dolphin. It navigates murky river waters using echolocation to hunt fish. Its neck vertebrae are unfused, allowing for incredible flexibility. It is endangered due to habitat loss and pollution.

Bolivian River Dolphin

Previously a subspecies, now often recognized as a full species distinct from the Amazon river dolphin. It is geographically isolated by a series of rapids. This freshwater dolphin faces threats from dam construction, pollution, and fishing activities.

Araguaian Boto

Identified as a distinct species in 2014. It is geographically separated from other boto species in the Amazon basin. With a small population, it is considered vulnerable due to increasing agricultural and industrial pressures on its river habitat.

South Asian River Dolphin

Functionally blind, this unique dolphin navigates and hunts fish in murky rivers using sophisticated echolocation. It often swims on its side. It is endangered, living in two isolated populations threatened by dams, pollution, and fishing net entanglement.

La Plata Dolphin (Franciscana)

Despite its “river dolphin” lineage, it lives in coastal marine and estuarine waters. It has a remarkably long, slender beak used to probe for bottom-dwelling fish. It is one of the most threatened cetaceans in the region due to incidental capture in fishing gear.

Tucuxi

A small freshwater dolphin that resembles a miniature bottlenose dolphin. It is found throughout the Amazon river system, often alongside the larger boto. It feeds on a variety of fish and is known for its energetic leaps. It faces threats from habitat degradation.

Costero (Guiana Dolphin)

The marine relative of the tucuxi, inhabiting coastal and estuarine environments. It looks very similar to the tucuxi but is larger. This species feeds on schooling fish and is vulnerable to entanglement in fishing nets and coastal habitat loss.

Beluga Whale

Known as the “canary of the sea” for its wide range of vocalizations. Belugas are born gray and turn white as adults. They have a flexible neck and a bulbous melon used for echolocation. They are threatened by climate change and pollution.

Narwhal

The “unicorn of the sea,” famous for the male’s single long tusk, which is a sensory organ. This Arctic whale feeds on fish, squid, and shrimp, often diving to great depths under sea ice. It is highly vulnerable to climate change and ice loss.

Harbour Porpoise

One of the smallest marine mammals, often seen in shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries. It has a small, stocky body and a blunt head. It feeds on small, non-spiny fish. Its main threat is accidental capture in gillnets.

Vaquita

The world’s smallest and most endangered cetacean, living in a tiny coastal area. A key trait is the dark rings around its eyes and lips. It is critically endangered due to illegal gillnet fishing, with fewer than 10 individuals remaining.

Burmeister’s Porpoise

A poorly known porpoise found along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. Its name comes from its uniquely shaped dorsal fin, which has small bumps on its leading edge. It is threatened by entanglement in fishing nets.

Spectacled Porpoise

Named for the distinct dark patches around its eyes that resemble spectacles. It is a rarely seen, elusive porpoise with a striking black-and-white coloration. Much of what is known comes from stranded animals. Its population status is unknown.

Dall’s Porpoise

One of the fastest cetaceans, capable of reaching speeds over 50 km/h. It has a striking black-and-white pattern similar to an orca’s. Often seen creating a “rooster tail” splash as it surfaces to breathe while moving at high speed.

Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise

This small porpoise lacks a true dorsal fin, having only a low ridge along its back. It inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and even some rivers. It is threatened by high levels of bycatch in fishing gear and habitat destruction.

Yangtze Finless Porpoise

The only freshwater porpoise, found exclusively in the Yangtze River system. It has a famously “smiling” face and high intelligence. It is critically endangered due to habitat degradation, pollution, ship traffic, and overfishing in the river.

Orca (Killer Whale)

The ocean’s apex predator, an intelligent and social dolphin with complex hunting strategies. Different “ecotypes” specialize on specific prey like seals, fish, or even large whales. They have a striking black-and-white coloration and a tall dorsal fin.

False Killer Whale

A large, social dolphin with a slender, all-black body. It is known for forming strong social bonds and for mass stranding events. They prey on large fish and squid and are known to share food. They are threatened by fisheries interactions.

Pygmy Killer Whale

A small, rarely seen oceanic dolphin. Despite its name, it is not closely related to the killer whale. It has a dark gray to black body and a rounded head. It is known to be aggressive in captivity and preys on fish and squid.

Melon-headed Whale

A small toothed whale with a distinct cone-shaped head. They are highly social, often found in large pods of hundreds. They are fast swimmers and prey on squid and small fish in deep oceanic waters.

Long-finned Pilot Whale

A large, social dolphin with a bulbous head and long, sickle-shaped flippers. Known for strong family bonds and unfortunately for mass strandings. They primarily feed on squid, diving deep to hunt. Some populations are subject to controversial drive hunts.

Short-finned Pilot Whale

Very similar to its long-finned relative but prefers warmer waters and has shorter flippers. These highly social animals live in stable family pods. They are deep divers that specialize in hunting squid at night. They are also vulnerable to drive fisheries.

Risso’s Dolphin

A medium-sized dolphin recognizable by its heavily scarred, pale body, which gets whiter with age from interactions with other Risso’s and prey. It has a blunt head and primarily feeds on squid in deep offshore waters.

Rough-toothed Dolphin

Named for the fine vertical ridges on its teeth. It has a conical head and a slender body, often with a mottled appearance. This species is a deep-diving predator of fish and squid, found in tight-knit social groups.

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

The most well-known dolphin species, famous for its intelligence and “smiling” appearance. They are adaptable predators, using a variety of clever techniques to hunt fish. They are found in offshore waters and have a robust, larger body than their coastal relatives.

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

A coastal relative of the common bottlenose dolphin, generally smaller and more slender with a longer rostrum. They often have spots on their bellies as adults. This species faces threats from coastal development, pollution, and entanglement.

Burrunan Dolphin

A recently described species (2011) found in two small, isolated populations in southern Australia. They are genetically distinct from other bottlenose dolphins. Their small population size makes them highly vulnerable to local threats like pollution.

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

A slender, fast-swimming dolphin that develops more spots as it ages. They are famous for associating with yellowfin tuna, which led to massive population declines from bycatch in tuna purse-seine nets before dolphin-safe fishing practices were introduced.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Similar to the pantropical spotted dolphin, this species also gains spots with age. They are social, inquisitive animals often found in the Gulf Stream. They have a varied diet of fish and squid and are known for their acrobatic displays.

Spinner Dolphin

Famous for its spectacular acrobatic displays, where it leaps from the water and spins along its longitudinal axis. This behavior’s purpose is not fully understood. They are social animals that rest in shallow bays during the day and feed offshore at night.

Clymene Dolphin

Known as the “short-snouted spinner dolphin,” this species is a natural hybrid of spinner and striped dolphins. It is also capable of spinning leaps. It’s a rarely seen oceanic species that feeds on small fish and squid.

Striped Dolphin

A beautifully patterned dolphin with a distinct blue and white striped pattern. They are fast swimmers, often seen leaping from the water in large, active groups. They feed on fish and squid in deep offshore waters. They are vulnerable to bycatch.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

An energetic and acrobatic dolphin, often seen bow-riding and traveling in huge pods. They have a distinctive hourglass pattern on their sides. They feed on schooling fish and squid. Large numbers were once killed in fishing nets.

Long-beaked Common Dolphin

Closely related to the short-beaked variety but with a longer beak and a more muted color pattern. It prefers shallower, warmer coastal waters. It is a social, fast-swimming predator of schooling fish.

Fraser’s Dolphin

A poorly known dolphin of the deep ocean, only recognized as a species in 1956. It has a stocky body and a very short beak. They are fast swimmers, often creating a lot of spray, and travel in large, tightly packed pods.

White-beaked Dolphin

A robust dolphin with a short, thick, white beak. It’s a powerful swimmer often seen in coastal waters of the North Atlantic. They feed on a variety of fish like cod and haddock. They are sometimes caught as bycatch in fishing gear.

Atlantic White-sided Dolphin

Distinguished by a complex and striking color pattern, including a yellow-tan streak on its flank. They are highly social and acrobatic, often forming large pods. They prey on schooling fish and squid.

Pacific White-sided Dolphin

A highly acrobatic and playful dolphin known for its distinctive gray, black, and white markings. They are commonly seen in large, active pods off the Pacific coast of North America and Asia, feeding on small fish and squid.

Dusky Dolphin

Considered one of the most acrobatic of all dolphins, famous for its high leaps, flips, and somersaults. They are highly social and cooperative hunters of schooling fish like anchovies. They are found in cool coastal waters around South America, Africa, and New Zealand.

Peale’s Dolphin

A beautifully patterned dolphin with a dark face and a single white stripe along its flank. It is commonly found in and around kelp beds, where it hunts for fish and octopus. It is vulnerable to entanglement in local fisheries.

Hourglass Dolphin

The only small dolphin found in the cold Antarctic convergence. It has a striking black and white pattern that resembles an hourglass, making it easily identifiable. It is rarely seen by humans due to its remote, stormy habitat.

Commerson’s Dolphin

A small, striking dolphin with a black head, dorsal fin, and fluke, and a white body. Its bold pattern has earned it the nickname “panda dolphin.” It is a playful species often seen in shallow waters, estuaries, and river mouths.

Chilean Dolphin

A small, stocky dolphin with a blunt head and uniformly dark gray coloration. It is one of the least studied cetaceans, found only in the cold, coastal waters of Chile. It is threatened by entanglement in fishing nets and habitat degradation.

Heaviside’s Dolphin

A small, colourful dolphin with a triangular dorsal fin. It is endemic to the cold Benguela Current system off southwestern Africa. It is an active species that feeds on bottom-dwelling fish and squid. Bycatch is a significant threat.

Hector’s Dolphin

One of the world’s smallest and rarest dolphins, recognized by its unique rounded dorsal fin. They live in small groups close to shore. The species is endangered, with the main threat being entanglement in gillnets and trawl nets.

Northern Right Whale Dolphin

A slender, graceful dolphin that completely lacks a dorsal fin. It has a striking black-and-white pattern. It is a very fast swimmer, often seen making long, low leaps in large, tightly packed groups.

Southern Right Whale Dolphin

The only dolphin in the Southern Hemisphere without a dorsal fin. Its body is slim and starkly black on top and white below. It is a fast-swimming, oceanic species often found in large pods, feeding on fish and squid.

Irrawaddy Dolphin

A unique-looking dolphin with a high, rounded forehead and a short beak. It lives in coastal areas, estuaries, and large river systems like the Mekong and Irrawaddy. It is endangered due to habitat loss and bycatch in fishing gear.

Australian Snubfin Dolphin

Similar in appearance to the Irrawaddy dolphin, this species was only recognized in 2005. It has a snub-nosed appearance and a small, triangular dorsal fin. It is known to spit water while hunting fish in shallow coastal waters.

Atlantic Humpback Dolphin

The most endangered of the humpback dolphins, found in a narrow coastal band along western Africa. It has a distinct hump at the base of its dorsal fin. It is critically endangered due to bycatch in fisheries and habitat destruction.

Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin

This species is characterized by a prominent hump under its dorsal fin and a dark gray coloration. It inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. It is endangered, facing severe threats from fishing gear and coastal development.

Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

Known for its pinkish-white coloration in some populations (often called the Chinese white dolphin). It inhabits coastal estuarine waters and faces significant threats from pollution, habitat loss, and marine traffic throughout its range.

Australian Humpback Dolphin

Recognized as a distinct species in 2014. It has a lower, more rounded dorsal fin compared to its Asian relatives. It lives in small, localized populations that are vulnerable to coastal development and fishing activities.