Is a sperm whale a beaked whale?

Called odontocetes—from the Greek for “toothed whales”—toothed whales are the bigger group, comprising about 70 of the whale species living today. The group includes beaked whales and sperm whales.

Why are beaked whales rarely seen?

Beaked whales (systematic name Ziphiidae) are a family of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance.

Are there killer whales in the Bahamas?

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) have a cosmopolitan distribution, yet little is known about populations that inhabit tropical waters. We compiled 34 sightings of killer whales in the Bahamas, recorded from 1913 to 2011.

Are beaked whales toothed or baleen?

There are 76 toothed whale species altogether and they are grouped into ten families: the sperm whale; the dwarf and pygmy sperm whale; the beluga and narwhal; the beaked whales; the oceanic dolphins; the four river dolphins (each one is placed in a family of their own); and the porpoise family.

How long can beaked whales hold their breath?

New findings shatter previous dive records. Elusive Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) spend only about 2 minutes at the sea surface to catch a breath for their marathon dives.

Are dolphins in Bahamas?

Bahamas Dolphin Encounters. Nassau and Freeport Bahamas offer the most incredible dolphin encounters in the world. The islands of the Bahamas offer plenty fun in the sun activities, but none can compare to a personal encounter with a dolphin. These marine mammals are as majestic and intelligent as they are playful.

Are there dolphins in the Bahamas?

People travel from all over the world to snorkel and dive with the charismatic dolphins of the Bahamas, like the the playful spotted dolphins or aloof bottlenose. They’re pretty well-known marine mammals for the area.

Which whales are toothed?

toothed whale, (suborder Odontoceti), any of the odontocete cetaceans, including the oceanic dolphins, river dolphins, porpoises, pilot whales, beaked whales, and bottlenose whales, as well as the killer whale, sperm whale, narwhal, and beluga whale.