Baleen whales have two-holed blowholes, while toothed whales have one-holed blowholes.
Sperm Whale
- 11-18 metres in length (females are smaller than males).
- 20-57 tons in weight.
- Found in the offshore waters of the world, from tropical to subpolar waters.
- Large square head, with small lower jaw with teeth.
- Brown/grey body with wrinkled skin.
- Bumpy, triangular dorsal fin.
- Females create lasting ties to one another. One average, 12 females and their young will create a family unit.
Beluga Whale
- 3.5-5.5 metres in length.
- Up to 1,400 kilograms in weight.
- Found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic region.
- White robust body shape with bulbous head.
- No dorsal fin.
Northern Bottlenose Whale
- Six to nine metres in length.
- Six to nine tons in weight.
- Found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
- Bulbous forehead with a dolphin-like beak, and robust cylindrical body.
- Sickle-shaped dorsal fin.
- Dark grey to brown colour body.
Pilot Whale
- Four to 6.5 metres in length.
- 1.8-3.5 tons in weight.
- Found in tropical waters to sub-tropical waters of the world, and temperate waters.
- Robust body with bulbous head and no beak.
- Wide-rounded dorsal fin.
- Black body with anchor-shaped white patch on throat and lighter markings on belly.
Killer Whale
- Up to 10 metres in length.
- Up to 11 tons in weight.
- Found in all oceans from tropical (in lower densities) to polar oceans.
- Mainly black bodied with white bellies and oval white patch behind each eye, and grey saddle patch behind the dorsal fin.
- Tall pointed dorsal fin at midpoint. In males it is tall and straight, while females and juveniles have a curved fin.
- The shape of the dorsal fin and saddle patch, as well as any scars, allow researchers to differentiate between individual killer whales.
Sowerby’s Beaked Whale
- 4.4-5.5 metres in length.
- Up to 2,900 kilograms in weight.
- Found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
- Grey coloured body with paler underside.
- Bulge on forehead and beak.
- Small, curved dorsak fin with rounded tip.
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale
- Up to 5.5 metres (Female) and 6.9 metres (Male) in length.
- Up to 3,000 kilograms in weight.
- Found in most oceans worldwide.
- Dark grey to red/brown body with a paler underside.
- Short beak with a curved mouth line.
- Curved dorsal fin.
- Two pleats running along the throat to form a V-shape.
True’s-Beaked Whale
- Up to 5.3 metres (male) and 5.4 metres (female) in length.
- Gray to brown colouration on dorsal side and paler ventral side.
- Rounded and sloping melon head.
- Small and wide dorsal fin.
- Males have teeth visible on the tip of their lower jaw.
Baird’s Beaked Whales
- Up to 12 metres in length.
- Up to 12,000 kilograms in weight.
- Found in the North Pacific Ocean.
- Gray or brown in colour with paler belly, with some white patches.
- Rounded, bulbous head and cylindrical beak.
- Small protruding teeth from their lower jaw.
