Science, Tech, Math › Animals & Nature 19 Types of Whales From Giant Blue Whales to Bottlenose Dolphins Print Animals & Nature Marine Life Marine Life Profiles Marine Habitat Profiles Sharks Key Terms Amphibians Birds Habitat Profiles Mammals Reptiles Insects Forestry Dinosaurs Evolution View More By Jennifer Kennedy Jennifer Kennedy Marine Science Expert M.S., Resource Administration and Management, University of New Hampshire B.S., Natural Resources, Cornell University Jennifer Kennedy, M.S., is an environmental educator specializing in marine life. She serves as the executive director of the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on July 18, 2024 There are nearly 90 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in the order Cetacea, which is divided into two suborders, the Odontocetes, or toothed whales, and the Mysticetes, or toothless baleen whales. Here are profiles of 19 Cetaceans, which differ greatly in appearance, distribution, and behavior: Blue Whale: Balaenoptera Musculus WolfmanSF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Blue whales are thought to be the largest animals ever to have lived on Earth. They reach lengths up to 100 feet and weigh 100 to 150 tons. Their skin is a beautiful gray-blue color, often with a mottling of light spots. Fin Whale: Balaenoptera Physalus Aqqa Rosing-Asvid/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 The fin whale is the second-largest animal in the world. Its sleek appearance caused sailors to call it the "greyhound of the sea." Fin whales are a type of streamlined baleen whale and the only animal known to be asymmetrically colored, as they have a white patch on their lower jaw only on the right side. Sei Whale: Balaenoptera Borealis Christin Khan/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Sei (pronounced "say") whales are one of the fastest types of whale species. They are streamlined with a dark back and white underside and very curved dorsal fin. The name came from seje, the Norwegian word for pollock, a type of fish because sei whales and pollock often appeared off Norway's coast at the same time. Humpback Whale: Megaptera Novaeangliae Kurzon/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain The humpback whale is known as the "big-winged New Englander" because it has long pectoral fins or flippers, and the first humpback scientifically described was in New England waters. Its majestic tail and variety of spectacular behaviors make this whale a favorite of whale watchers. Humpbacks are medium-sized baleen whales with a thick blubber layer, making them clumsier in appearance than some of their more streamlined relatives. They are well known for their spectacular breaching behavior, in which they jump out of the water. The reason for this behavior is unknown, but it's one of many fascinating humpback whale facts. Bowhead Whale: Balaena Mysticetus Kate Stafford/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 The bowhead whale got its name from its high, arched jaw that resembles a bow. They're cold-water whales that live in the Arctic. The bowhead's blubber layer is over 1.5' thick, which provides insulation against the cold waters. Bowheads are a type of whale still hunted by native whalers in the Arctic. North Atlantic Right Whale: Eubalaena Glacialis Pcb21/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered marine mammals, with only about 400 remaining. It was known as the "right" whale for whalers to hunt because of its slow speed, tendency to float when killed, and thick blubber layer. The callosities on the right whale's head help scientists identify and catalog individuals. Right whales spend their summer feeding season in cold northern latitudes off of Canada and New England and their winter breeding season off the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia. and Florida. Southern Right Whale: Eubalaena Australis Michaël CATANZARITI/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain The southern right whale is a large, bulky-looking baleen whale that reaches 45 to 55 feet in length and weighs up to 60 tons. They have the curious habit of "sailing" in strong winds by lifting their huge tail flukes above the water's surface. Like many other large whale species, the southern right whale migrates between warmer, low-latitude breeding grounds and colder, high-latitude feeding grounds. These grounds are fairly distinct and include South Africa, Argentina, Australia, and parts of New Zealand. North Pacific Right Whale: Eubalaena Japonica John Durban/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain North Pacific right whales have dwindled in population so much that only a few hundred remain. A western population in the Sea of Okhotsk off Russia is thought to number in the hundreds, and an eastern population in the Bering Sea off Alaska numbers about 30. Bryde's Whale: Balaenoptera Edeni Jolene Bertoldi/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 The Bryde's (pronounced "broodus") whale is named for Johan Bryde, who built the first whaling stations in South Africa. They are 40 to 55 feet long, weigh up to 45 tons, and are found most frequently in tropical and subtropical waters. There are two species: Bryde’s/Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni), a smaller form found primarily in coastal waters in the Indian and western Pacific oceans, and Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni brydei), a larger form found primarily in offshore waters. Omura's Whale: Balaenoptera Omurai Salvatore Cerchio/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0 Omura's whale, originally thought to be a smaller form of the Bryde's whale, was designated as a species in 2003 and isn't well known. It is a type of whale known to reach 40 feet in length, weigh about 22 tons, and live in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Gray Whale: Eschrichtius Robustus Jose Eugenio/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0 The gray whale is a medium-sized baleen whale with beautiful gray colors with white spots and patches. This whale species has been divided into two population stocks, one of which has recovered from the brink of extinction and another nearly extinct. Common Minke Whale: Balaenoptera Acutorostrata Rui Prieto/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0 Minke whales are a type of whale that is small but still 20 to 30 feet long. There are three subspecies of minke whale: the North Atlantic minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata), the North Pacific minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammoni), and the dwarf minke, an unnamed subspecies. Antarctic Minke Whale: Balaenoptera Bonaerensis Brocken Inaglory/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0 In the 1990s, Antarctic minke whales were declared a separate species from the common minke whale. These whales are typically found in the Antarctic region in the summer and closer to the equator (around South America, Africa, and Australia) in the winter. They are the subject of a controversial hunt by Japan each year under a special permit for scientific research purposes. Sperm Whale: Physeter Macrocephalus Gabriel Barathieu/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 Sperm whales are the largest odontocete (toothed whale). They grow to 60 feet in length and have dark, wrinkled skin, blocky heads, and stout bodies. Orca: Orcinus Orca Robert Pittman/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain With their beautiful black-and-white coloration, orcas, also called killer whales, have an unmistakable appearance. They are toothed whales that gather in family-oriented pods of 10 to 50. They are popular animals for marine parks, which are growing more controversial. Beluga Whale: Delphinapterus Leucas Greg5030//Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons 3.0 The beluga whale was called the "sea canary" by sailors because of its distinctive vocalizations, which could sometimes be heard through the hull of a ship. Beluga whales are found in Arctic waters and the St. Lawrence River. The beluga's all-white coloration and rounded forehead make it distinctive from other species. A toothed whale, the beluga finds its prey using echolocation. The population of beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, is listed as endangered, but other populations aren't listed. Bottlenose Dolphin: Tursiops Truncatus NASAs/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Bottlenose dolphins are one of the most well-known and well-studied marine mammals. Their gray coloration and "smiling" appearance make them easily recognizable. Bottlenose dolphins are toothed whales that live in pods of up to several hundred. They can be found near shore, especially in the southeastern U.S. along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Risso's Dolphin: Grampus Griseus Michael L Baird/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 Risso's dolphins are medium-sized toothed whales that grow to about 13 feet long. Adults have stout gray bodies that may have a heavily scarred appearance. Pygmy Sperm Whale: Kogia Breviceps Inwater Research Group/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0 The pygmy sperm whale is an odontocete, or toothed whale, with teeth only on its lower jaw, like the much larger sperm whale. It's a fairly small whale with a squarish head and stocky appearance. The pygmy sperm whale reaches an average length of 10 feet and weighs about 900 pounds. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Kennedy, Jennifer. "19 Types of Whales." ThoughtCo, Jul. 18, 2024, thoughtco.com/types-of-whales-2292021. Kennedy, Jennifer. (2024, July 18). 19 Types of Whales. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-whales-2292021 Kennedy, Jennifer. "19 Types of Whales." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-whales-2292021 (accessed September 5, 2024). copy citation