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Updated 11/22/2013

Marine Mammals

Marine mammals include the Pinnipeds, Sea Otters, and Cetaceans.  All are protected by Federal Law.  The endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal is the only pinniped native to Hawaii.
Baleen whales have jaws lined with stiff fibrous plates used to strain small fish and invertebrates from mouthfuls of seawater.  They also have a pair of blowholes and communicate using sound.  Baleen whales do not possess the same ability to use sound for navigation as found in toothed whales.
Toothed whales include dolphins, porpoises, sperm, and beaked whales.  They have a single blowhole, conical teeth, and use sound for navigation, also known as echolocation, and communication.  The feed upon fish and squid and often form social groups called pods.  Toothed whales are wild animals that should not be taken lightly.

 

HAWAII

Monachus schauinslandi 

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL

 

Megaptera novaeangliae 

HUMPBACK WHALE

 

Stenella longirostris

HAWAIIAN SPINNER DOLPHIN

 

Tursiops spp.

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN

 

Pseudorca crassidens  

FALSE KILLER WHALE

 

 

Orcinus orca

KILLER WHALE

 

Globicephala macrorhynchus

SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE

 
Peponocephala electra

MELON-HEADED WHALE

 


ARCTIC OCEAN

Delphinapterus leucas 

BELUGA or WHITE WHALE

 


SOUTH ATLANTIC

Cephalorhynchus commersonii 

COMMERSON'S DOLPHIN