Odontoceti - Toothed whales

The order Cetacea comprises the sea mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins and porpoises, and is divided into two extant sub-orders: Odontoceti (toothed whales) and Mysticeti (baleen whales).

The Odontoceti suborder includes all the cetaceans with teeth and a single nostril in the blowhole. This sub-order, also defined as toothed whales and dolphins, include the beaked whales, sperm whales, all dolphins and porpoises, the Narwhal and Beluga.

In Madeira archipelago waters these are the Odontocetes recorded so far:

Superfamily: DELPHINOIDEA (Oceanic dolphins and relatives)
Family: DELPHINIDAE

Family: PHOCOENIDAE (Porpoises)

  • Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocaena - Dubious record

Superfamily: PHYSETEROIDEA (Sperm whales)
Family: KOGIIDAE

Family: PHYSETERIDAE

Superfamily: ZIPHIOIDEA (Beaked whales)
Family: ZIPHIDAE

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