Skip to content

Whale and dolphin species guide

There are around 90 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, known collectively as "cetaceans". From the enormous blue whale to the tiny vaquita and Hector's dolphin, you will find information and amazing facts about many of these incredible creatures in our species guide.

Whale and dolphin species

All whales and dolphins can be divided into two categories: baleen whales and toothed whales. Toothed whales include the sperm whale, beaked whales, dolphins, porpoises and the beluga whale and narwhal.

All
  • All
  • Baleen whales
  • Beaked whales
  • Beluga whale and narwhal
  • Dolphins
  • Porpoises
  • River dolphins
  • Sperm whales
Sowerby's beaked whale

Sowerby’s beaked whale

Spectacled porpoise

Sperm whale

Sperm whale

Spinner dolphin

Spinner dolphin

Strap-toothed beaked whale

Strap-toothed beaked whale

Striped dolphin

Striped dolphin

True's beaked whale

True’s beaked whale

Tucuxi

Tucuxi

Vaquita

Vaquita

White-beaked dolphin © Marjike de Boer

White-beaked dolphin

Make a difference

Join our team  - no matter which way you choose, your commitment helps whales, dolphins, and our shared planet.

Save the whales, save the world.

Humpback whale spyhop

Adopt

Adopt a whale and help us protect these amazing creatures.

Bottlenose dolphin calf breaching with its whole body out of the water
Bottlenose dolphin calf

Join

You can join our team and help us save whales and dolphins

Breaching North Atlantic right whale
Breaching North Atlantic Right Whale

Donate

Your gifts help us take action for whales and dolphins.

Orca spyhop

Shop

Support WDC by shopping for yourself or a friend.