Cetaceans Classification and Species Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering Mysticeti and Odontoceti families, scientific names, geographic distributions, and conservation statuses directly from lecture notes.

MYSTICETI

A suborder of cetaceans that includes the families Neobalaenidae, Eschrichtiidae, Balaenopteridae, and Balaenidae.

ODONTOCETI

A suborder of cetaceans that includes families such as Physeteridae, Kogiidae, Monodontidae, Ziphiidae, Phocoenidae, Platanistidae, Iniidae, and Pontoporiidae.

NEOBALAENIDAE

A family of Mysticeti containing the Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata).

Pygmy Right Whale

Scientific Name: Caperea marginata | Family: Neobalaenidae | Geographic Distribution: Southern Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least concern (LC)

ESCRICHTIIDAE

A family of Mysticeti containing the Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

Gray Whale

Scientific Name: Eschrichtius robustus | Family: Eschrichtiidae | Geographic Distribution: North Pacific Ocean | Conservation Status: Least concern (LC)

BALAENOPTERIDAE

A family of Mysticeti containing species such as Blue whale, Fin whale, Sei Whale, Bryde’s Whale, Minke whale, and Humpback whale.

Blue whale

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera musculus | Family: Balaenopteridae | Geographic Distribution: Both Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Endangered (EN)

Fin whale

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera physalus | Family: Balaenopteridae | Geographic Distribution: Both Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU)

Sei Whale

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera borealis | Family: Balaenopteridae | Geographic Distribution: Both Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Endangered (EN)

Bryde’s Whale

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera edeni | Family: Balaenopteridae | Geographic Distribution: Tropical and Subtropical zone | Conservation Status: Least concern (LC)

Minke whale

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata | Family: Balaenopteridae | Geographic Distribution: Both Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least concern (LC)

Humpback whale

Scientific Name: Megaptera novaeangliae | Family: Balaenopteridae | Geographic Distribution: Both Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

BALAENIDAE

A family of Mysticeti (Right and bowhead whale) containing Northern Right Whale, Southern Right Whale, and Bowhead Whale.

Northern Right Whale

Scientific Name: Eubalaena glacialis | Family: Balaenidae | Geographic Distribution: Northern Pacific | Conservation Status: Endangered (EN)

Southern Right Whale

Scientific Name: Eubalaena australis | Family: Balaenidae | Geographic Distribution: Southern Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Bowhead Whale

Scientific Name: Balaena mysticetus | Family: Balaenidae | Geographic Distribution: Arctic and subarctic regions | Conservation Status: Least concern (LC)

PHYSETERIDAE

A family of Odontoceti containing the Sperm whale (Physeter catodon).

Sperm whale

Scientific Name: Physeter catodon | Family: Physeteridae | Geographic Distribution: Both Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU)

KOGIIDAE

A family of Odontoceti (Pygmy and Dwarf Sperm Whales) containing Pygmy Sperm Whale and Dwarf Sperm Whale.

Pygmy Sperm Whale

Scientific Name: Kogia breviceps | Family: Kogiidae | Geographic Distribution: All ocean | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Dwarf Sperm Whale

Scientific Name: Kogia simus | Family: Kogiidae | Geographic Distribution: Tropical to warm zones | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

MONODONTIDAE

A family of Odontoceti (Narwhal and White Whales) containing Narwhals and White whale.

Narwhals

Scientific Name: Monodon monoceros | Family: Monodontidae | Geographic Distribution: Arctic Circle | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

White whale

Scientific Name: Delphinapterus leucas | Family: Monodontidae | Geographic Distribution: Northern Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

ZIPHIIDAE

A family of Odontoceti (Beaked Whales) containing species such as Baird’s beaked whale, Arnoux’s beaked whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale, Northern bottlenose whale, and Mesoplodon species.

Baird’s beaked whale

Scientific Name: Berardius bairdii | Family: Ziphiidae | Geographic Distribution: North Pacific Ocean | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Arnoux’s beaked whale

Scientific Name: Berardius arnuxii | Family: Ziphiidae | Geographic Distribution: Southern Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Cuvier’s beaked whale

Scientific Name: Ziphius cavirostris | Family: Ziphiidae | Geographic Distribution: All oceans | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Northern bottlenose whale

Scientific Name: Hyperoodon ampullatus | Family: Ziphiidae | Geographic Distribution: North Atlantic | Conservation Status: Near Threatened (NT)

Southern bottlenose

Scientific Name: Hyperoodon planifrons | Family: Ziphiidae | Geographic Distribution: Southern Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale

Scientific Name: Mesoplodon ginkgodens | Family: Ziphiidae | Geographic Distribution: Indo Pacific ocean | Conservation Status: Data Deficient (DD)

PHOCOENIDAE

A family of Odontoceti containing Dali’s porpoise, Spectacled porpoise, Harbour porpoise, Burmeisteri porpoise, Vaguita, and Finless porpoise.

Dali’s porpoise

Scientific Name: Phocoenoides dalli | Family: Phocoenidae | Geographic Distribution: North Pacific Ocean | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Spectacled porpoise

Scientific Name: Australophocaena dioptrica | Family: Phocoenidae | Geographic Distribution: Southern Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Harbour porpoise

Scientific Name: Phocoena phocoena | Family: Phocoenidae | Geographic Distribution: Northern Hemisphere | Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Burmeisteri porpoise

Scientific Name: Phocoena spinipinnis | Family: Phocoenidae | Geographic Distribution: South America | Conservation Status: Nearly Threatened (NT)

Vaguita

Scientific Name: Phocoena sinus | Family: Phocoenidae | Geographic Distribution: Northern Quarter California | Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

Finless porpoise

Scientific Name: Neophocaena phocaenoides | Family: Phocoenidae | Geographic Distribution: Indo Pacific | Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

PLATANISTIDAE

A family of river dolphins containing Ganges River Dolphin and Indus River Dolphin.

Ganges River Dolphin

Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica | Family: Platanistidae | Geographic Distribution: India | Conservation Status: Endangered (EN)

Indus River Dolphin

Scientific Name: Platanista minor | Family: Platanistidae | Geographic Distribution: Indus | Conservation Status: Endangered (EN)

INIIDAE

A family of river dolphins containing Boto (Inia geoffrensis).

Boto

Scientific Name: Inia geoffrensis | Family: Iniidae | Geographic Distribution: South America | Conservation Status: Endangered (EN)

PONTOPORIIDAE

A family of dolphins containing Baiji and Franciscana.

Baiji

Scientific Name: Lipotes vexillifer | Family: Pontoporiidae | Geographic Distribution: Yangtze River China | Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

Franciscana

Scientific Name: Pontoporia blainvillei | Family: Pontoporiidae | Geographic Distribution: South America | Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU)