Classification: Whales & Dolphins

Commerson’s Dolphin (SeaWorld)

4.3 (3 votes)

Review and images by EpicRaptorMan; edited by bmathison1972

This small dolphin is known from an assortment of common names some of which include: the panda dolphin, skunk dolphin, jacobita, and Commerson’s dolphin, just to name a few. This cetacean was first described in 1767 by the French naturalist Dr. Philibert Commerson while exploring the waters around the southern tip of South America and was scientifically named Cephalorhynchus commersonii in 1804.

Blue Whale (Mega Sofubi Advance by Kaiyodo)

4.4 (8 votes)

There are many iterations of a fabled, island-sized sea monster across various cultures, which were in no doubt inspired by early accounts of animals such as the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). Blue whales exist in all major oceans, but precise distributions are patchy and their migratory movements are poorly understood.

Sei Whale (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)

5 (3 votes)

Off the Norwegian coasts, a species of whale is known to appear alongside schools of pollock, thus the sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is aptly named the ”pollock whale” in their language. Though recent genetic studies warrant the revision of the Balaenoptera genus, data shows that the sei whale is the blue whale’s (B.

Sperm Whale, 2019 (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)

4.6 (5 votes)

Review and images by Cachalot; edited by bmathison1972

Recently I have gotten interested in sea animals, whales in particular. The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is my favorite; it is an animal of extremes. It has the largest brain on earth, 17 to 20 pounds. There are music ditties about this creature being brainy.

Humpback Whale, adult and calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)

5 (6 votes)

The sounds of whales often fill the ambiance of the ocean, and none are more popular than the songs of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). This species traditionally occupies the sole Balaenopterid genus outside of Balaenoptera, but molecular studies position the humpback as the closest relative of the fin whale (B.phylsaus), rendering Balaenoptera paraphyletic.

Hector’s Dolphin (NZ Wildlife Figures Pack by Stewart Sales & Services)

4.5 (2 votes)

Out of the 90+ species of cetaceans, only one is endemic to New Zealand, the Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori). Within the Delphinidae family, this species’ genus forms a clade with the right whale dolphins (Lissodelphis spp.) and former members of Lagenorhynchus.

Bowhead Whale (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)

3.5 (4 votes)

Today will be dedicated to the largest Arctic resident, the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus). When initially described by Linneaus in 1758, the bowhead whale was classified as the same species as other right whales (Eubalaena spp.). After decades of morphological and molecular studies, the bowhead was assigned to a separate genus within the shared family, Balaenidae.

Narwhal (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)

5 (2 votes)

For me, there are not many ”normal” whale species. Most either look normal until you learn more about them or openly advertise their weirdness like the narwhal (Monodon monoceros). The narwhal is the only extant member of its genus and its closest relative is the beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), both belonging to the Monodontidae family.

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Sealife by CollectA)

3.8 (4 votes)

The overrepresentation of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) undermines the real diversity within the Delphinidae family, thus warranting a look at a species like the Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). This species is endemic to the North Pacific, spanning across Baja California, Southern China, and the Bering Sea.

Sperm Whale, 2018 (Marine Life by Papo)

5 (2 votes)

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is one of my hands-down favorite animals and yes, I know I’ve said that before about other species, but there’s only three animals tattooed on my arm and one of them is the sperm whale. The other is the giant squid (Architeuthis dux) and as you can expect, they’re locked in combat, a small shark lurks in the background.

Gray Whale, calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)

4.3 (3 votes)

If there’s any cetacean that sets the North Pacific apart from the rest of the world, it’s the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Gray whales are a very familiar species, as their skin color and overall appearance make them easily distinguishable from other baleen whales. Gray whales have been traditionally placed in their only family from other baleen whales, Eschrichtiidae, based on their morphology.

Killer Whale (AAA)

3 (2 votes)

The oceans are full of wonderous, graceful but also dangerous animals, though many of these reactions depend on what species you are. This review will look at one that, to us, is graceful, beautiful and intelligence, but to many fish and whales is a dangerous predator, the killer whale (Orcinus orca), or the orca.

Dolphins TOOB (Safari Ltd.)

4.7 (7 votes)

Oceanic dolphins are among the most fascinating and exciting group of marine mammals. Delphinidae are the most species-rich family of extant cetaceans, with roughly 35 recognized extant species. This lineage arose roughly 10-17 million years ago during the Miocene, branching off from its common ancestor with porpoises and monodontids. This family is very diverse, ranging from the Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) that maxes out at 1.6 meters and 60 kilograms, to the killer whale (Orcinus orca) that can surpass 9 meters and 9 metric tons.

Killer Whale, adult and calf (ANIA by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.)

3.6 (5 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

Contrary to their common name, killer whales (Orcinus orca), also known as orcas, are a species of oceanic dolphin, although they can be considered whales as all dolphins are considered whales but not all whales are dolphins. They are the largest of all dolphins, reaching lengths of 500 cm to 960 cm with males getting to greater lengths than females and also sporting larger pectoral and dorsal fins, with some getting higher than 180 cm (that’s taller than I am!).

Pygmy Sperm Whale (Sealife by CollectA)

4.3 (6 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Our latest cetacean review will shift its attention to a long-overlooked species, the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps). The cetacean clade ‘’Physeteroidea’’, is one of the oldest lineages within the odontocete order. Its only extant members are the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and the species within the Kogia genus.