Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises, BAL-WHA

Cetacean, (order Cetacea), any member of an entirely aquatic group of mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and 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,...
Back To Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises Page

Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises Encyclopedia Articles By Title

baleen whale
baleen whale, (suborder Mysticeti), any cetacean possessing unique epidermal modifications of the mouth called......
basilosaurid
basilosaurid, any member of the family Basilosauridae, an early group of whales that lived from the middle Eocene......
Basilosaurus
Basilosaurus, extinct genus of primitive whales of the family Basilosauridae (suborder Archaeoceti) found in Middle......
beaked whale
beaked whale, (family Ziphiidae), any of more than 20 species of medium-sized toothed whales that have an extended......
beluga
beluga, (Delphinapterus leucas), a small, toothed whale found mainly in the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean......
blue whale
blue whale, (Balaenoptera musculus), the most massive animal ever to have lived, a species of baleen whale that......
bottlenose dolphin
bottlenose dolphin, (genus Tursiops), any of two or three species of oceanic dolphins classified within the marine......
bottlenose whale
bottlenose whale, any of five species of beaked whales distinguished by a bulbous forehead that drops sharply to......
cetacean
cetacean, (order Cetacea), any member of an entirely aquatic group of mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins,......
dolphin
dolphin, any of the toothed whales belonging to the mammal family Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) as well as the......
fin whale
fin whale, (Balaenoptera physalus), a slender baleen whale, second in size to the blue whale and distinguishable......
grampus
grampus, (Grampus griseus), a common offshore inhabitant of tropical and temperate ocean waters, a member of the......
gray whale
gray whale, (Eschrichtius robustus), a slender baleen whale having a profusion of external parasites that give......
humpback whale
humpback whale, (Megaptera novaeangliae), a baleen whale known for its elaborate courtship songs and displays.......
killer whale
killer whale, (Orcinus orca), largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). The killer whale is easy to identify......
Llanocetus denticrenatus
Llanocetus denticrenatus, one of the earliest known baleen whales, sole member of the family Llanocetidae, suborder......
narwhal
narwhal, (Monodon monoceros), a small toothed whale found along coasts and in rivers throughout the Arctic. Males......
Pakicetus
Pakicetus, extinct genus of early cetacean mammals known from fossils discovered in 48.5-million-year-old river......
pilot whale
pilot whale, (genus Globicephala), either of two species of small, slender toothed whales of the dolphin family......
porpoise
porpoise, (family Phocoenidae), specifically, any of seven species of toothed whales distinguishable from dolphins......
right whale
right whale, (family Balaenidae), any of four species of stout-bodied whales having an enormous head measuring......
river dolphin
river dolphin, any of six species of small, usually freshwater aquatic mammals that are related to whales (order......
rorqual
rorqual, (genus Balaenoptera), any of five particular species of baleen whales—specifically the blue whale, fin......
sei whale
sei whale, (Balaenoptera borealis), species of baleen whale capable of short bursts of speed that make it the swiftest......
Simocetus
Simocetus, dolphinlike toothed whale (or odontocete) from the late Oligocene (28 million to 23 million years ago)......
sperm whale
sperm whale, (Physeter macrocephalus), the largest of the toothed whales, easily recognized by its enormous square......
toothed whale
toothed whale, (suborder Odontoceti), any of the odontocete cetaceans, including the oceanic dolphins, river dolphins,......
vaquita
vaquita, (Phocoena sinus), species of nonmigratory marine mammal known for being the smallest member of the porpoise......
whale
whale, any of the larger species of aquatic mammals belonging to the order Cetacea. The term whale can be used......