Kinds of dolphins – a whole listing of dolphin species, with footage and fascinating information on every.
Dolphins are marine mammals belonging to the infraorder Cetacea, which may be house to whales and porpoises.
Recognized for his or her prime intelligence and acrobatic shows, dolphins are a number of the maximum acquainted and best-loved participants of the animal kingdom.
In this web page is a listing of each and every dwelling dolphin species with footage and fascinating information. It comprises all species within the oceanic dolphin circle of relatives, Delphinidae, in addition to all the river dolphins.
Additionally in this web page is an interactive desk of dolphin species that you’ll be able to use to kind dolphins by way of identify, circle of relatives, genus, measurement, conservation standing, and so on.
Web page Index
The typical bottlenose dolphin is only one of 40 dwelling dolphin species. (In this web page, 41 species are indexed, as we’ve incorporated the Baiji, which is now believed to be extinct.)
The listing accommodates dolphins which are regularly referred to as whales, together with the killer whale or orca (which is an oceanic dolphin belonging to the circle of relatives Delphinidae).
If truth be told, all dolphins are whales, as they belong to the parvorder Odontoceti – a gaggle of cetaceans sometimes called toothed whales.
Unfortunately, a number of dolphin species are endangered. We’ve incorporated the IUCN conservation standing of every species (Supply: IUCN Pink Checklist, June 2023). You’ll use the desk underneath to kind the dolphin species by way of conservation standing.
You’ll learn how we compiled this listing additional down the web page.
Varieties Of Dolphins
The 2 primary sorts of dolphins are oceanic dolphins (circle of relatives Delphinidae), and river dolphins (quite a lot of households). The vast majority of dolphin species are oceanic dolphins; just a handful of species are present in freshwater habitats. Widely known sorts of dolphins come with the not unusual bottlenose dolphin, the not unusual dolphin and the killer whale or orca.
In this web page is a whole listing of dolphin species, plus a desk that you’ll be able to use to kind dolphins by way of circle of relatives, genus, measurement, conservation standing, and so on.
Scroll down to look all the dolphins, or use the index underneath to visit a selected species.
Checklist Of Dolphins
River Dolphins
Dolphin Species Desk
| Not unusual Title | Genus | Clinical Title | Circle of relatives | IUCN Conservation Standing | The place discovered | Period (m) | Period (toes.) | Weight (lb) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon River Dolphin | Inia | Inia geoffrensis | Iniidae | Endangered | Amazon Basin, South The us | 2.50 | 8.20 | 355.00 | 161.00 |
| Atlantic Humpback Dolphin | Sousa | Sousa teuszii | Delphinidae | Severely Endangered | Atlantic coast of West Africa | 2.50 | 8.20 | 300.00 | 136.00 |
| Atlantic Noticed Dolphin | Stenella | Stenella frontalis | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Atlantic Ocean | 2.30 | 7.50 | 310.00 | 140.00 |
| Atlantic White-sided Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus | Lagenorhynchus acutus | Delphinidae | Least Fear | North Atlantic | 2.80 | 9.20 | 500.00 | 227.00 |
| Australian Humpback Dolphin | Sousa | Sousa sahulensis | Delphinidae | Susceptible | Northern Australia and New Guinea | 2.60 | 8.50 | 350.00 | 158.00 |
| Australian Snubfin Dolphin | Orcaella | Orcaella heinsohni | Delphinidae | Susceptible | Northern Australia | 2.40 | 7.90 | 300.00 | 136.00 |
| Baiji | Lipotes | Lipotes vexillifer | Lipotidae | Severely Endangered (In all probability Extinct) | Yangtze River, China | 2.50 | 8.20 | 510.00 | 231.00 |
| Chilean Dolphin | Cephalorhynchus | Cephalorhynchus eutropia | Delphinidae | Close to Threatened | Coasts of Chile and Argentina | 1.70 | 5.60 | 115.00 | 52.00 |
| Clymene Dolphin | Stenella | Stenella clymene | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Tropical and subtropical Atlantic | 2.00 | 6.60 | 180.00 | 82.00 |
| Commerson’s Dolphin | Cephalorhynchus | Cephalorhynchus commersonii | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Southern South The us, Kerguelen Islands | 1.50 | 5.00 | 110.00 | 50.00 |
| Not unusual Bottlenose Dolphin | Tursiops | Tursiops truncatus | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Heat and temperate seas international | 3.80 | 12.50 | 1100.00 | 500.00 |
| Not unusual Dolphin | Delphinus | Delphinus delphis | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Heat and tropical oceans | 2.50 | 8.20 | 330.00 | 150.00 |
| Dusky Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus | Lagenorhynchus obscurus | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Southern Hemisphere | 2.00 | 6.60 | 160.00 | 72.50 |
| False Killer Whale | Pseudorca | Pseudorca crassidens | Delphinidae | Close to Threatened | Heat and tropical oceans | 6.00 | 20.00 | 3000.00 | 1360.00 |
| Franciscana | Pontoporia | Pontoporia blainvillei | Pontoporiidae | Susceptible | Coastal Atlantic waters of southeastern South The us | 1.70 | 5.60 | 115.00 | 52.00 |
| Fraser’s Dolphin | Lagenodelphis | Lagenodelphis hosei | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Deep waters within the Pacific | 2.70 | 8.90 | 460.00 | 210.00 |
| Guiana Dolphin | Sotalia | Sotalia guianensis | Delphinidae | Close to Threatened | Western South Atlantic | 2.20 | 7.20 | 350.00 | 160.00 |
| Heaviside’s Dolphin | Cephalorhynchus | Cephalorhynchus heavisidii | Delphinidae | Close to Threatened | Coasts of South Africa and Namibia | 1.80 | 5.90 | 165.00 | 75.00 |
| Hector’s Dolphin | Cephalorhynchus | Cephalorhynchus hectori | Delphinidae | Endangered | Coasts of New Zealand | 1.40 | 4.60 | 130.00 | 58.00 |
| Hourglass Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus | Lagenorhynchus cruciger | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Antarctic and subantarctic waters | 1.80 | 5.90 | 250.00 | 113.00 |
| Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin | Sousa | Sousa plumbea | Delphinidae | Endangered | Indian Ocean | 2.60 | 8.50 | 350.00 | 158.00 |
| Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin | Tursiops | Tursiops aduncus | Delphinidae | Close to Threatened | Indo-Pacific Oceans | 2.60 | 8.50 | 550.00 | 250.00 |
| Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin | Sousa | Sousa chinensis | Delphinidae | Susceptible | Indian and Pacific Oceans | 2.50 | 8.20 | 300.00 | 136.00 |
| Irrawaddy Dolphin | Orcaella | Orcaella brevirostris | Delphinidae | Susceptible | Southeast Asia and Northern Australia | 2.70 | 8.90 | 350.00 | 158.00 |
| Killer Whale | Orcinus | Orcinus orca | Delphinidae | Information Poor | World oceans | 8.00 | 26.20 | 12000.00 | 5443.00 |
| Lengthy-finned Pilot Whale | Globicephala | Globicephala melas | Delphinidae | Least Fear | North Atlantic and Southern Ocean | 6.70 | 22.00 | 5000.00 | 2268.00 |
| Melon-headed Whale | Peponocephala | Peponocephala electra | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Tropical oceans | 2.70 | 8.90 | 300.00 | 136.00 |
| Northern Proper Whale Dolphin | Lissodelphis | Lissodelphis borealis | Delphinidae | Least Fear | North Pacific | 2.60 | 8.50 | 200.00 | 91.00 |
| Pacific White-sided Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus | Lagenorhynchus obliquidens | Delphinidae | Least Fear | North Pacific | 2.50 | 8.20 | 440.00 | 200.00 |
| Pantropical Noticed Dolphin | Stenella | Stenella attenuata | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Tropical and subtropical oceans | 2.60 | 8.50 | 250.00 | 113.00 |
| Peale’s Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus | Lagenorhynchus australis | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Southern South The us | 2.50 | 8.20 | 250.00 | 114.00 |
| Pygmy Killer Whale | Feresa | Feresa attenuata | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Tropical and subtropical oceans | 2.60 | 8.50 | 500.00 | 227.00 |
| Risso’s Dolphin | Grampus | Grampus griseus | Delphinidae | Least Fear | World oceans | 3.80 | 12.50 | 1100.00 | 500.00 |
| Tough-toothed Dolphin | Steno | Steno bredanensis | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Tropical and heat temperate oceans | 2.80 | 9.20 | 350.00 | 158.00 |
| Quick-finned Pilot Whale | Globicephala | Globicephala macrorhynchus | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Tropical and temperate seas | 5.50 | 18.00 | 3000.00 | 1360.00 |
| South Asian River Dolphin | Platanista | Platanista gangetica | Platanistidae | Endangered | Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus rivers, South Asia | 2.60 | 8.50 | 200.00 | 90.00 |
| Southern Proper Whale Dolphin | Lissodelphis | Lissodelphis peronii | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Southern Hemisphere | 2.70 | 8.90 | 220.00 | 100.00 |
| Spinner Dolphin | Stenella | Stenella longirostris | Delphinidae | Least Fear | Tropical and subtropical oceans | 2.30 | 7.50 | 170.00 | 77.00 |
| Striped Dolphin | Stenella | Stenella coeruleoalba | Delphinidae | Least Fear | World oceans | 2.60 | 8.50 | 350.00 | 158.00 |
| Tucuxi | Sotalia | Sotalia fluviatilis | Delphinidae | Endangered | Amazon River, South The us | 1.80 | 5.90 | 120.00 | 55.00 |
| White-beaked Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus | Lagenorhynchus albirostris | Delphinidae | Least Fear | North Atlantic | 3.00 | 9.80 | 770.00 | 350.00 |
Atlantic Humpback Dolphin
Clinical Title: Sousa teuszii
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.5 to two.8 meters (8.2 to 9.2 ft)
Weight: 150 to 200 kg (330 to 440 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters of West Africa
Conservation standing: Severely Endangered
The Atlantic humpback dolphin is a member of the humpback dolphin genus Sousa – a gaggle of dolphins identified for his or her exceptional humped backs.
The Atlantic humpback dolphin is grey to white in coloration and has fewer enamel than different humpback dolphins.
This species is endemic to the Japanese Atlantic, being discovered off the west coast of Africa from Western Sahara to Angola, frequently inside shut vary of land.
The Atlantic humpback dolphin lives in small teams. Because of habitat loss, incidental catch, and different threats, this species is significantly endangered.
Atlantic Noticed Dolphin
Clinical Title: Stenella frontalis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.8 to two.4 meters (5.9 to 7.9 ft)
Weight: 80 to 130 kg (176 to 286 lbs)
The place discovered: Heat and tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Atlantic Noticed Dolphins have a slim frame with a definite darkish dorsal cape and spots masking their mild grey or white facets.
This species is extremely social, normally dwelling in teams of as much as 15 folks, and frequently associating with different dolphin species, together with the not unusual bottlenose dolphin, with which the Atlantic noticed dolphin has been identified to effectively breed.
Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lagenorhynchus acutus
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.5 to three meters (8.2 to 9.8 ft)
Weight: 200 to 350 kg (440 to 770 lbs)
The place discovered: North Atlantic Ocean, specifically in cool-temperate and subarctic waters
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Atlantic white-sided dolphins are massive dolphins with a highly-distinctive coloration trend: a dismal grey again, white or mild grey stomach, and a light yellow-gray patch at the back of the dorsal fin. They’re acrobatic, and can frequently engage with boats.
Australian Humpback Dolphin
Clinical Title: Sousa sahulensis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.6 to two.8 meters (8.5 to 9.2 ft)
Weight: 200 to 230 kg (440 to 507 lbs)
The place discovered: Northern coasts of Australia and the waters round New Guinea
Conservation standing: Susceptible
The Australian humpback dolphin was once known as a separate species in 2014. (supply)
Like different humpback dolphins, the species has a hump on its again. It’s silver-gray in coloration, with light fins and a dismal grey again. It’s discovered within the coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers alongside the northern part of Australia, from the Queensland-New South Wales border within the east to Shark Bay in Western Australia.
The species is rated “Susceptible” because of habitat degradation, air pollution, and unintentional by-catch.
Australian Snubfin Dolphin
Clinical Title: Orcaella heinsohni
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: As much as 2.7 meters (roughly 8.9 ft)
Weight: As much as 139 kg (roughly 306 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters of northern Australia
Conservation standing: Susceptible
The Australian Snubfin Dolphin was once identified as a definite species in 2005 (till then, it and the closely-related Irrawaddy dolphin have been regarded as the similar species). Its identify refers back to the brief, blunt dorsal fin on its again.
The species has a three-color trend, which distinguishes it from the Irrawaddy dolphin (which has two colours). It’s an opportunistic, generalist feeder, that eats all kinds of fish. (supply)
Chilean Dolphin
Clinical Title: Cephalorhynchus eutropia
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: As much as 1.7 meters (roughly 5.6 ft)
Weight: As much as 60 kg (roughly 132 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal Chile within the chilly, shallow waters of the southeastern Pacific Ocean
Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
Often referred to as the Black Dolphin, the Chilean Dolphin is likely one of the smallest cetacean species. It has a strong construct, with a rounded head and no beak, and is infrequently fallacious for a porpoise. Its frame is darkish gray to black, with a white underside.
In contrast to many different dolphin species, the Chilean Dolphin is rather shy and elusive. It’s normally observed in small pods of as much as 10 folks.
Clymene Dolphin
Clinical Title: Stenella clymene
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: As much as 2 meters (roughly 6.6 ft)
Weight: As much as 75-80 kg (roughly 165-176 lbs)
The place discovered: Tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Often referred to as the short-snouted spinner dolphin, the Clymene dolphin has a slim frame with 3 primary colours: darkish grey again and facets, paler grey at the throat and facets, and white undersides. The species is understood for its lengthy, slim beak and its spectacular acrobatics, and is frequently observed jumping and spinning out of the water.
The Clymene dolphin’s ancestors have been hybrids of the spinner dolphin and striped dolphin, and the species has traits of each. It’s the simplest identified instance of hybrid speciation (the method wherein a brand new species evolves on account of hybridization) in cetaceans.
Commerson’s Dolphin
Clinical Title: Cephalorhynchus commersonii
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.5 to two.5 meters (4.9 to eight.2 ft)
Weight: 35 to 85 kg (77 to 187 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters of the southernmost portions of South The us and across the Kerguelen Islands within the Indian Ocean
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Commerson’s Dolphins are identified for his or her placing black and white patterning. One of the vital smallest dolphin species, they’ve a strong construct and a rounded dorsal fin. They’re lively and acrobatic, frequently observed using the bow wave created by way of boats. Their nutrition is composed of fish and squid.
Commerson’s Dolphin is known as after French naturalist Philibert Commerson, who came upon the species as he circumnavigated the globe in an expedition led by way of admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville.
Not unusual Bottlenose Dolphin
Clinical Title: Tursiops truncatus
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: Between 2 to 4 meters (6.6 to 13.1 ft)
Weight: Between 150 to 650 kg (330 to 1430 lbs)
The place discovered: Extensively allotted world wide in each offshore and coastal spaces, together with harbors, bays, gulfs, and estuaries of temperate and tropical waters.
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The typical bottlenose dolphin is likely one of the maximum well known dolphin species because of its use in aquarium displays and flicks. The species is understood each for its intelligence and its acrobatic habits.
The typical bottlenose dolphin is gray in coloration, with a lighter underside. It has a various nutrition that comes with fish and squid.
Not unusual Dolphin
Clinical Title: Delphinus delphis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.9 to two.5 meters (6.2 to eight.2 ft)
Weight: 80 to 150 kg (176 to 330 lbs)
The place discovered: Heat and tropical seas international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The typical dolphin is the sector’s maximum plentiful cetacean, with an international inhabitants numbering a number of million.
Recognized for its playful habits and agility, the typical dolphin is well liked by watchers of marine natural world. This is a mid-sized species with a dismal gray-black again, white stomach and exceptional light gray, yellow or gold hourglass-shaped patch on its facets.
Dusky Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lagenorhynchus obscurus
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.7 to two meters (5.6 to six.6 ft)
Weight: 70 to 85 kg (154 to 187 lbs)
The place discovered: Cool waters of the South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The dusky dolphin is a small, tough cetacean identified for its spectacular acrobatics. It’s simply known by way of its brief, curved dorsal fin and a posh, placing frame trend with a dismal grey or black again, white underside, and feature mild grey patch at the flank, extending from the tail to the middle of the frame.
Dusky dolphins inhabit cool, upwelling-rich waters of the Southern Hemisphere, specifically round South The us, New Zealand, and a few portions of Africa. They’re essentially coastal however will also be present in offshore waters.
The dusky dolphin is understood for its social nature and is frequently observed in massive teams, every so often numbering within the masses. The species’ acrobatic shows, together with leaps, backslaps, and stomach flops, are a spectacle to behold, making it a favourite amongst natural world fanatics.
False Killer Whale
Clinical Title: Pseudorca crassidens
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 4.9 to six meters (16 to twenty ft)
Weight: 1,200 to two,200 kg (2,600 to 4,900 lbs)
The place discovered: Present in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters all over the sector
Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
The false killer whale, in spite of its identify, is indirectly associated with the killer whale, or orca. The species is known as for the similarity of its cranium with that of the orca.
A big dolphin, the false killer whale in most cases measures as much as 6 meters in duration and will weigh up to 1,500 kilograms. It’s characterised by way of its elongated, slender frame, rounded overhanging brow, and small, conical, moderately upturned snout.
False killer whales are extremely sociable and identified for his or her playful habits and coffee mass strandings. They’re discovered all over the sector’s tropical and temperate seas and feature a desire for deep, open ocean environments.
False killer whales are identified to percentage meals amongst team participants, highlighting their sturdy social bonds. The species has the IUCN conservation standing ‘Close to Threatened’ because of its low replica charges and threats equivalent to bycatch, marine air pollution, and aid in prey from overfishing.
Fraser’s Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lagenodelphis hosei
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.6 to two.7 meters (8.5 to eight.9 ft)
Weight: 200 kg (440 lbs)
The place discovered: Deep waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Fraser’s dolphin is a lesser-known dolphin species identified for its small beak, tough, torpedo-shaped frame and a particularly small dorsal fin relative to its frame measurement. It has a placing coloration trend, with a grey again and white undersides separated by way of a dismal stripe that runs from the face, across the eye, and alongside the flanks.
Present in deep waters of the tropical Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Fraser’s dolphin is a extremely social species, frequently touring in massive teams, every so often numbering within the 1000’s. It’s identified to be a quick swimmer.
Guiana Dolphin
Clinical Title: Sotalia guianensis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.7 to two.2 meters (5.6 to 7.2 ft)
Weight: 40 to 60 kg (88 to 132 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal spaces and estuaries alongside jap South The us
Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
The Guiana dolphin, sometimes called the Costero or estuarine dolphin, seems like a small bottlenose dolphin, and has a strong construct and outstanding beak.
The species is located with regards to the Atlantic coast of South and Central The us, and is understood to mission into freshwater habitats. It’s in most cases present in small teams of 2-10 folks.
Guiana dolphins are identified to herd fish onto the shore, momentarily stranding themselves so as to seize their prey.
Heaviside’s Dolphin
Clinical Title: Cephalorhynchus heavisidii
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.7 to two meters (5.6 to six.6 ft)
Weight: 75 to 80 kg (165 to 176 lbs)
The place discovered: Chilly coastal waters off Namibia and the west coast of South Africa
Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
Heaviside’s dolphin is a small, tough species with a dismal gray most sensible, lighter flanks, and a white stomach. It’s identified for its acrobatic habits and is frequently observed breaching and browsing in waves. Its nutrition is composed most commonly of fish and cephalopods.
Hector’s Dolphin
Clinical Title: Cephalorhynchus hectori
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.2 to one.6 meters (3.9 to five.2 ft)
Weight: 40 to 60 kg (88 to 132 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters of New Zealand
Conservation standing: Endangered
Hector’s dolphin is likely one of the smallest dolphin species on the planet, and the one species discovered simplest in New Zealand. It has a novel rounded dorsal fin and has a light gray frame with darkish head and fins.
This species is in most cases present in small teams and feeds on quite a lot of fish and squid.
Hourglass Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lagenorhynchus cruciger
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.8 to one.9 meters (5.9 to six.2 ft)
Weight: 90 to 120 kg (198 to 264 lbs)
The place discovered: Chilly waters of the Southern Hemisphere, specifically round Antarctica
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The hourglass dolphin is a rather small species, named for the exceptional white, elongated “hourglass” trend on its darkish frame. It has a brief beak and a tall, curved dorsal fin
This dolphin inhabits the chilly, sub-Antarctic waters of the Southern Hemisphere. It’s normally observed in teams in most cases containing fewer than 10 folks, however gatherings of as much as 100 persons are identified.
Whilst now not a lot is understood in regards to the species’ habits because of its far flung habitat, it’s identified to be a quick swimmer and in a position to impressive aerial shows, frequently observed jumping and using swells and waves.
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
Clinical Title: Sousa plumbea
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.5 to two.8 meters (8.2 to 9.2 ft)
Weight: 150 to 200 kg (330 to 440 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters of the Indian Ocean from South Africa to India
Conservation standing: Endangered
Like different humpback dolphins, the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin has a hump underneath the dorsal fin. It’s in most cases gray to purple in coloration.
The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin is located alongside the coasts of the Indian Ocean, starting from South Africa to India and as a long way east because the western borders of Thailand.
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
Clinical Title: Tursiops aduncus
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: Between 2 to two.6 meters (6.6 to eight.5 ft)
Weight: Between 150 to 230 kg (330 to 507 lbs)
The place discovered: Heat temperate to tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans
Conservation standing: Close to Threatened
The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is the same in look to the closely-related not unusual bottlenose dolphin however in most cases smaller, with a rather lengthy snout and spots on its facets. It’s darkish gray, with paler undersides.
Recognized for its playful and curious nature, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin’s nutrition essentially is composed of fish and cephalopods.
Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin
Clinical Title: Sousa chinensis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.5 to two.8 meters (8.2 to 9.2 ft)
Weight: 150 to 200 kg (330 to 440 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters from jap India to southeastern China, the Philippines, and northerly Australia
Conservation standing: Susceptible
Often referred to as the Chinese language white dolphin, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is located in shallow coastal waters within the Indo-Pacific area.
The species is characterised by way of a hump underneath the dorsal fin and a light grey / white color, with some populations having a novel purple color.
Irrawaddy Dolphin
Clinical Title: Orcaella brevirostris
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.3 to two.6 meters (7.5 to eight.5 ft)
Weight: 90 to 200 kg (198 to 440 lbs)
The place discovered: Shallow, near-shore tropical and subtropical marine waters of Southeast Asia, and in 3 massive rivers: the Ayeyarwady in Myanmar, the Mahakam in Indonesian Borneo and the Mekong
Conservation standing: Susceptible
The Irrawaddy Dolphin has a rounded frame with a prime and rounded brow, and lacks a beak. Its coloration is uniformly slate blue to slate grey. It’s present in coastal spaces, and also will input freshwater habitats. Even though also known as the Irrawaddy river dolphin, it belongs to the oceanic dolphin circle of relatives, Delphinidae.
Killer Whale (Orca)
Clinical Title: Orcinus orca
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: As much as 9.6 meters in men, as much as 7 meters in women (31.5 ft in men, 23 ft in women)
Weight: As much as 6 lots in men, as much as 4 lots in women (13,227 lbs in men, 8,818 lbs in women)
The place discovered: Allotted throughout world oceans, from Arctic and Antarctic areas to tropical seas
Conservation standing: Information Poor
Recognized for its exceptional black and white coloring, the killer whale, or orca, is the biggest species of dolphin. It has a heavy and powerful frame and a big dorsal fin.
The killer whale is an apex predator and not using a predators of its personal. It hunts fish and marine mammals. The species is extremely social and frequently travels in circle of relatives teams which is able to include as much as 4 generations.
Lengthy-Finned Pilot Whale
Clinical Title: Globicephala melas
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 5.5 to 7.5 meters (18 to twenty-five ft)
Weight: 1,300 to two,300 kg (2,866 to five,070 lbs)
The place discovered: Each northern and southern hemispheres, in temperate and sub-polar spaces
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The long-finned pilot whale is a huge dolphin species prominent by way of its lengthy, sickle-shaped pectoral fins and bulbous brow. Its frame is darkish, normally black or very darkish grey, with lighter patches at the throat and stomach.
This species inhabits each open and coastal waters of the cooler areas of the Southern Hemisphere and the North Atlantic Ocean.
The long-finned pilot whale has been matter to mass strandings on seashores, the reason for which stays in large part unknown. It additionally faces threats from searching in some areas and incidental seize in fishing equipment.
Melon-Headed Whale
Clinical Title: Peponocephala electra
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.5 to two.75 meters (8.2 to 9.0 ft)
Weight: 200 to 300 kg (440 to 660 lbs)
The place discovered: Tropical oceans international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Regardless of its identify, the melon-headed whale is in reality a dolphin. It has a slightly conical, beak-less head (from which it will get its identify) with a frame that tapers to a slim tail. It’s in most cases darkish grey with lighter undersides.
The melon-headed whale is extremely social, forming pods that frequently include a number of masses of people. The biggest melon-headed whale pods include as much as 2,000 folks.
Northern Proper Whale Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lissodelphis borealis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.1 to three meters (6.9 to 9.8 ft)
Weight: 100 to 150 kg (220 to 330 lbs)
The place discovered: North Pacific Ocean
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The northern proper whale dolphin is swish and slim with a particular black and white trend. It lacks a dorsal fin, which supplies it a novel, easy profile.
The species is frequently present in massive teams. This is a speedy swimmer that feeds on small fish and squid.
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.9 to two.5 meters (6.2 to eight.2 ft)
Weight: 150 to 200 kg (330 to 440 lbs)
The place discovered: North Pacific Ocean, from Japan to California
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The Pacific white-sided dolphin has a dismal grey frame with a white underside and exceptional grey stripes at the facets. Its snout is brief and its dorsal fin tall and hooked.
It lives in teams containing 10 to 100 folks, and is understood to maintain in poor health or injured participants of its team.
Pantropical Noticed Dolphin
Clinical Title: Stenella attenuata
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.8 to two.7 meters (5.9 to eight.9 ft)
Weight: 80 to 130 kg (176 to 286 lbs)
The place discovered: Heat waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Pantropical noticed dolphins have a slim frame with a definite darkish dorsal cape, spots masking their mild grey or white facets, and a dismal eye ring. They’re extremely social and frequently observed jumping and using the bow waves of boats.
The pantropical noticed dolphin is likely one of the international’s maximum plentiful dolphin species.
Peale’s Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lagenorhynchus australis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.1 to two.5 meters (6.9 to eight.2 ft)
Weight: 115 to 130 kg (253 to 286 lbs)
The place discovered: Waters across the Falkland Islands and the southern tip of South The us
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Peale’s dolphin has a strong frame, a brief beak, and is darkish grey to black in coloration, with white patches round its flippers and on its tail. It’s sometimes called the black-chinned dolphin.
Peale’s dolphin lives in small pods and is infrequently observed with different dolphins, together with Commerson’s dolphin.
Pygmy Killer Whale
Clinical Title: Feresa attenuata
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.1 to two.6 meters (6.9 to eight.5 ft)
Weight: 110 to 170 kg (243 to 375 lbs)
The place discovered: Tropical and subtropical oceans international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
The pygmy killer whale is a small, darkish dolphin with a rounded head and no beak. It has a falcate (hooked or curved like a sickle) dorsal fin and lengthy, pointed flippers. Regardless of its identify, it isn’t heavily associated with the killer whale.
Risso’s Dolphin
Clinical Title: Grampus griseus
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.6 to 4 meters (8.5 to 13.1 ft)
Weight: 300 to 500 kg (661 to one,102 lbs)
The place discovered: Temperate and tropical oceans international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Risso’s Dolphins have a strong frame with a novel creased brow, a tall dorsal fin, and a dismal grey frame lined in in depth white scarring. They feed nearly solely on squid and are identified for his or her deep diving talents.
Tough-Toothed Dolphin
Clinical Title: Steno bredanensis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.1 to two.9 meters (6.9 to 9.5 ft)
Weight: 100 to 150 kg (220 to 330 lbs)
The place discovered: Tropical and subtropical oceans international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Tough-toothed Dolphins are named for the exceptional ridges on their enamel. They’ve a slender frame, an extended beak, a tall dorsal fin, and a dismal grey coloration with lighter patches. They’re in most cases present in deep offshore waters and feed on fish and squid.
Quick-Finned Pilot Whale
Clinical Title: Globicephala macrorhynchus
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 3.6 to six.7 meters (12 to 22 ft)
Weight: 1,000 to three,000 kg (2,204 to six,613 lbs)
The place discovered: Tropical and temperate oceans international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Very similar to the long-finned pilot whale however with shorter fins, shorter beak and less enamel, the short-finned pilot whale has a spherical brow, bulbous melon, and a dismal grey to black frame.
Like its long-finned cousin, the short-finned pilot whale is susceptible to mass stranding occasions.
Southern Proper Whale Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lissodelphis peronii
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 2.2 to three meters (7.2 to 9.8 ft)
Weight: 100 to 150 kg (220 to 330 lbs)
The place discovered: Chilly waters of the Southern Hemisphere
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Identical in look to its northern counterpart, the southern proper whale dolphin has a streamlined frame, a small fluke, and lacks a dorsal fin. It’s in most cases black with a white stomach and throat, and is understood to be an overly energetic and speedy swimmer.
Spinner Dolphin
Clinical Title: Stenella longirostris
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.2 to two.3 meters (3.9 to 7.5 ft)
Weight: 55 to 75 kg (121 to 165 lbs)
The place discovered: Tropical oceans international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Spinner Dolphins are identified for his or her acrobatic shows, frequently jumping and spinning out of the water. This habits is also a type of communique, or a method to take away parasites (or each). They’ve slender our bodies, an extended skinny beak, and maximum have a particular tri-color trend with a dismal grey dorsal house, a mild grey center, and white or mild grey undersides.
Striped Dolphin
Clinical Title: Stenella coeruleoalba
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.8 to two.6 meters (5.9 to eight.5 ft)
Weight: 100 to 140 kg (220 to 308 lbs)
The place discovered: Tropical and heat temperate waters international
Conservation standing: Least Fear
Striped dolphins have a slim, streamlined frame with a outstanding beak and a dismal bluish-gray coloration on their again, mild grey on their facets, and a feature blue and white striped trend alongside their flanks. The species lives in massive teams that can include 1000’s of people.
Tucuxi
Clinical Title: Sotalia fluviatilis
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 1.5 to one.8 meters (4.9 to five.9 ft)
Weight: 40 to 60 kg (88 to 132 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South The us
Conservation standing: Endangered
The tucuxi is a small dolphin with a stocky frame, a rounded head, and a outstanding beak. It’s darkish grey to black in coloration with lighter undersides.
Regardless of being a member of the oceanic dolphin circle of relatives, the tucuxi is simplest present in freshwater habitats. It inhabits the Amazon River Basin in South The us.
The tucuxi is infrequently seen with the Amazon river dolphin, however the two species are unrelated.
White-Beaked Dolphin
Clinical Title: Lagenorhynchus albirostris
Circle of relatives: Delphinidae
Period: 3.3 meters (10.8 ft)
Weight: 200 to 350 kg (440 to 770 lbs)
The place discovered: Chilly-temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, together with the coasts of Iceland, Greenland, and portions of Europe
Conservation standing: Least Fear
As its identify suggests, the white-beaked dolphin in most cases has a white beak, despite the fact that that is much less noticeable in some folks. It’s present in chilly northerly waters.
Amazon River Dolphin
Clinical Title: Inia geoffrensis
Circle of relatives: Iniidae
Period: 1.5 to two.5 meters (4.9 to eight.2 ft)
Weight: 85 to 160 kg (187 to 352 lbs)
The place discovered: Amazon River and its tributaries in South The us
Conservation standing: Endangered
The Amazon River dolphin, sometimes called the purple river dolphin or boto, has a novel look, with some folks having a nearly fully pink-gray coloration.
The species’ neck vertebrae are unfused, permitting it to show its head 90 levels. This adaptation lets in the dolphin to show in tight circles, serving to it to move thru flooded forests.
Baiji
Clinical Title: Lipotes vexillifer
Circle of relatives: Lipotidae
Period: As much as 2.5 meters (8.2 ft)
Weight: 110 to 170 kg (243 to 375 lbs)
The place discovered: Yangtze River in China
Conservation standing: Severely Endangered (In all probability Extinct)
The baiji, sometimes called the Yangtze River Dolphin, was once a freshwater dolphin present in China’s Yangtze river machine.
No showed sightings of the baiji had been made since 2002, and it’s most probably that the species is now extinct.
The baiji had a particular lengthy, slim beak and was once mild grey to bluish in coloration. Its imaginative and prescient was once deficient, and it depended on echolocation to navigate the murky waters of the Yangtze.
Franciscana
Clinical Title: Pontoporia blainvillei
Circle of relatives: Pontoporiidae
Period: 1.4 to one.7 meters (4.6 to five.6 ft)
Weight: As much as 50 to 55 kg (110 to 121 lbs)
The place discovered: Coastal waters of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, specifically round Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay
Conservation standing: Susceptible
The franciscana, sometimes called Los angeles Plata dolphin, has a slim frame, a rounded head, and an extended beak. It has a grayish again, fading to a lighter colour at the facets and stomach. Even though a river dolphin, it’s in most cases discovered with regards to the shore in coastal waters, or in estuaries.
South Asian River Dolphin(s)
Clinical Title: Platanista gangetica
Circle of relatives: Platanistidae
Period: 2 to two.5 meters (6.6 to eight.2 ft)
Weight: 70 to 90 kg (154 to 198 lbs)
The place discovered: Rivers of the Indian subcontinent, together with the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus River methods
Conservation standing: Endangered
The South Asian river dolphin has an extended, slim frame and an extended beak with sharp enamel. It’s grayish-brown in coloration with a lighter underside.
Having developed in murky river water, the South Asian river dolphin has little need for acute eyesight. Because of this, its eyes are undeveloped and it’s just about blind. It navigates and hunts as a substitute the usage of its highly-developed sonar machine.
Analysis performed in 2021 means that the Ganges river dolphin and the Indus river dolphin, up to now believed to be subspecies of the South Asian river dolphin, are separate species.
Many government now acknowledge this transformation, with the Ganges river dolphin taking the medical identify Platanista gangetica, and the Indus river dolphin having the medical identify Platanista minor. Either one of the newly-recognized species are endangered.
How We Compiled This Checklist Of Dolphin Species
In compiling this listing, we consulted the Catalogue of Lifestyles, and Mammal Species of the Global – either one of that are on-line species databases.
Mammal Species of the Global acknowledges two species of South Asian river dolphins (Ganges River Dolphin and Indus River Dolphin), and in addition acknowledges the Lengthy-beaked Not unusual Dolphin, which different government mix with the typical dolphin.
The dolphin species indexed within the Catalogue of Lifestyles which aren’t indexed in Mammal species of the sector are the Australian Snubfin Dolphin, South Asian River Dolphin (which, as mentioned above, is now regarded as to be two separate species), Guiana Dolphin, Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin and Australian Humpback Dolphin.