Classification: Whales & Dolphins

Dolphins TOOB (Safari Ltd.)

4.8 (8 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.)

4 (7 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)

4.1 (7 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.

Killer Whale (Sealife by Mojö Fun)

4 (3 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

This blog managed to cover a wide variety of cetaceans before getting to today’s species, the killer whale (Orcinus orca). The public perception of killer whales has a rather dramatic history compared to most cetaceans. While revered by Indigenous cultures in North America, Europeans viewed killer whales as a malevolent nuisance and threat.

Dolphin (Authentics Sealife by Safari Ltd.)

3 (2 votes)

Among the animals of the world known for intelligence, one of the top three is the dolphin. These crafty cetaceans are known to be playful, agile and inventive, learning to deal with their ever changing world in many ways, like using river banks and bubbles to hunt. These clever critters do suffer as a result of humans, whether caught in nets, polluted oceans or captured to be used for our entertainment.

Humpback Whale (Maia & Borges, Schleich, Mojö Fun)

4.2 (6 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

This review will cover an exceptional mysticete, the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). The humpback is a well-recognized whale due to its breaching behavior and unique appearance. While placed in a separate genus from most other rorquals, modern genomic studies consistently report the humpback whale as the closest relative to the fin whale (Balenoptera physalus).

Gray Whale (Maia & Borges, Schleich, Mojö Fun, Unknown Company)

4.8 (4 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Today’s review will cover the Northern Pacific voyager, the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). The gray whale is a very well-known mysticete due to frequent sightings during whale-watching tours along the American west coast. Gray whales were also known as the ‘’Devil-fish’’ due to the aggression they display when defending against whalers and natural predators.

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

4.6 (5 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Today will be the blog’s first time covering the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), a charismatic arctic denizen. The beluga whale is the sole member of its genus, with the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) serving as its only extant relative within the family ‘’Monodontidae’’.

Blue Whale (Marine Life by Papo)

3.9 (11 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is among the most famous of all cetaceans, as it is recognized as the largest known animal currently living, and likely to have ever lived, on Earth. This whale is alternatively referred to as the ‘’sulfur-bottom’’ due to the growth of diatoms creating a yellowish pigmentation on the ventral body.

Bowhead Whale (Sealife by CollectA)

5 (6 votes)

Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), also known as the Greenland right whale, is the bearer of multiple titles: largest Arctic denizen, largest mouth of any animal, thickest blubber of any animal, and longest baleen plates of any cetacean. It is also thought to be the longest living of all mammals, with a maximum lifespan of more than 200 years!

Pilot Whale (Sealife by CollectA)

5 (4 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

When it comes to cetaceans, I generally find all mysticetes equally interesting, but I have strong preferences between different odontocetes. Outside of sperm whales and orcas, my next favorites are the members of the Globicephalinae subfamily of oceanic dolphins. This taxon contains all the species of dolphins referred to as ‘’blackfish’’, other than the killer whale.

Sperm Whale (Maia & Borges, Mojö Fun, Papo, & Schleich)

4.3 (7 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Today I am reviewing a figure of my favorite animal, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Its common name is derived from the discovery of an organ in its head that contained a white, waxy substance that was confused for its semen.

Minke Whale (Sealife by CollectA)

5 (5 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

The common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) is the smallest species of rorqual and the second smallest baleen whale after the pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata). They range from 6.0-9.5 meters in length and weigh 4-8 tons.

Dolphin (AAA)

4 (2 votes)

Cetaceans are an amazing example of the adaptability of the mammals. From giant filter feeders to smaller predators, they have a great variety of forms. This includes ones that mimic much older species, convergently evolving similar features to deal with the same environment. This review looks at a great example of this: the dolphin, which has similar adaptations to the extinct ichthyosaurs.

Narwhal (Folkmanis)

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3.7 (3 votes)

Review and photos by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

Perhaps the most bizarre of all living whales is the narwhal (Monodon monoceros), AKA the unicorn of the sea. This review will examining the one from Folkmanis, a company renowned for their top quality animal hand puppets. Unlike the previous plush toys I’ve reviewed here, this one didn’t come from an aquarium or zoo gift shop.

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