Beluga whale
Delphinapterus leucas
- Scientific name
- Delphinapterus leucas
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Epic
- Where to see it
- Cold / polar waters
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The beluga whale, nicknamed the canary of the sea for its wide range of whistles and clicks, is the only cetacean able to turn its head, since its neck vertebrae aren't fused together.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.