Oceanic Dolphins

Dusky Dolphins
Scientific Classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Cetacea
Family:Delphinidae
Genera
Peponocephala
Orcinus
Feresa
Pseudoorca
Globicephala
Delphinus
Lissiodelphis
Sotalia
Sousa
Stenella
Steno
Tursiops
Cephalorhyncus
Grampus
Lagenodelphis
Lagenorhyncus
Orcaella

Oceanic dolphins are the members of the Cetacean family Delphinidae. These aquatic mammals are related to the whales and porpoises.

As the name implies, these dolphins tend to be found in the open seas, unlike the river dolphins, although a few species are coastal or riverine like the Irrawaddy Dolphin.

Six of the larger species in the Delphinidae, the Killer Whale and its relatives, are named as whales, rather than dolphins. These are sometimes collectively known as "blackfish''.

The Delphinidae vary in size from 1.2 metres and 40 kg (Heaviside's Dolphin), up to 7 metres and 4.5 tonnes (the Killer Whale). Most species weigh between about 50 and about 200 kg. They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and all are carnivores, mostly taking fish and squid.

Taxonomy