Cetacea

infraorder of mammals

The order Cetacea are marine mammals that live in oceans, seas and even a few rivers around the world. Whales, dolphins and porpoises are part of this group. These common names refer to size: whales are the largest, porpoises the smallest. How and what they eat is a better guide to their relationships. The study of cetaceans is called cetology.

Cetacea
Temporal range: Early Eocene – Present
Humpback whale breaching
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Infraclass:
Superorder:
Order:
Infraorder:
Cetacea
Suborders

Mysticeti
Odontoceti
Archaeoceti

Some Cetacea: 1- Bowhead whale; 2- Orca; 3- Right whale; 4- Sperm whale; 5- Narwhal; 6- Blue whale; 7- Rorqual; 8- Beluga

Cetaceans are ocean creatures without toes, but are classified in the related order Cetartiodactyla because their ancestors were even toed ungulates.

Taxonomy

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