List of cetaceans

Cetaceans Temporal range: Early Eocene–Present PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Bottlenose dolphin breaching
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Cetartiodactyla
Suborder:	Whippomorpha
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Subgroups
Parvorder Mysticeti

Cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoises – are placental marine mammals. All modern members of the infraorder are fully aquatic and live in the open ocean (except a few species of dolphin which inhabit rivers and estuaries). Cetaceans mate, give birth, suckle their young, and feed exclusively underwater. They range in size from the 1.4-metre (4.6 ft) and 54-kilogram (119 lb) vaquita to the 29.9-metre (98 ft) and 190-metric-ton (210-short-ton) blue whale, which is also the largest creature that has ever existed. Fourteen families, 39 genera, and 88 species of cetaceans are recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Of the 88 species, the IUCN classifies three as Critically Endangered, seven as Endangered, six as Vulnerable, five as Near Threatened, twenty two as Least Concern, and 45 as Data Deficient.

Cetaceans are characterized by a body, paddle-shaped front limbs and vestigial hind limbs. Their tails have been flattened into flukes to aid propulsion. They have lungs, and must surface regularly to breathe air through blowholes (modified nostrils) situated on the top of the cranium. The cetaceans are included in the order Cetartiodactyla with the Artiodactyla (the even-toed ungulates). Previously, they were placed within their own order, Cetacea, now an infraorder. They are divided into two subgroups, the (the toothed whales, including dolphins and porpoises) and the Mysticeti (the baleen whales), formerly suborders but now considered parvorders or unranked taxa. There are 89 living species of cetaceans (including the functionally extinct Chinese river dolphin). In addition, numerous species of extinct cetaceans have been documented, but they are not listed here. This list contains only the known, extant cetacean species including several recently defined species.