1. Suborder Odontoceti

2. Head is proportionally larger than that of any other odontocete
Distinctive Features
Largest odontocete
Males – 50 feet long
Females – 36 feet long
Champion diver
Head is proportionally larger than that of any other odontocete

3. Can be almost 10 feet in length
Male narwhal Tusk
Left canine
Spirals
Can be almost 10 feet in length

4. Beluga whales – “Sea canaries”

5. Suborder Odontoceti, Family Ziphiidae
Members
Beaked whales
Distinctive Features
Champion divers
Narrow rostrum
Two conspicuous throat grooves

6. Distinctive Features
Shallow or non-existent notch between the tail flukes
Dorsal fin set well back on the body

7. Extensive skull asymmetry
Distinctive Features
Extensive skull asymmetry

8. Suborder Odontoceti, Family Delphinidae

9. Cephalorhynchus spp. < 5.6 feet in length Haviside’s dolphin
Chilean dolphin
Cephalorhynchus spp.
< 5.6 feet in length
Hector’s dolphin
Commerson’s dolphin

10. Suborder Odontoceti, Family Delphinidae

11. Orcinus orca – killer whales
29.5 feet long

12. Distinctive features
Generally fast and streamlined
Pronounced beak or rostrum

13. Distinctive features Cone-shaped teeth

14. Suborder Odontoceti, Family Phocoenidae
Members
Porpoises

15. Very small (< 7.2 feet in length) Small flippers No beak
Distinctive features
Very small (< 7.2 feet in length)
Small flippers
No beak
Laterally compressed teeth

16. Suborder Odontoceti, Family Platanistidae
Members
“River dolphins”

18. Suborder Odontoceti, Family Platanistidae
Members
“River dolphins”
Distinctive features
< 8 feet long
Long, narrow forceps-like beak

19. Distinctive features Spatulate flippers Small eyes Flexible neck