Beaked Whale - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

Beaked whales comprise at least 21 species of small whale in the family Ziphiidae, which is one of the least-known families of large mammals: several species have been described only in the last two decades. Six genera have been identified.

The beaked whales are the second-largest family of Cetaceans (after the dolphins.) They were one of the first groups to diverge from the ancestral lineage. The earliest known beaked whale fossils date to the Miocene, about 20 million years ago.

  • ORDER CETACEA
  • Suborder Odontoceti: toothed whales
    • Family Ziphiidae
      • Subfamily Berardiinae
        • Genus †Archaeoziphius
        • Genus Berardius
          • Berardius arnuxii, Arnoux's beaked whale
          • Berardius bairdii, Baird's beaked whale
        • Genus †Microberardius
      • Subfamily Hyperoodontinae
        • Genus †Africanacetus
        • Genus Hyperoodon, bottlenose whales
          • Hyperoodon ampullatus, Northern bottlenose whale
          • Hyperoodon planifrons, Southern bottlenose whale
        • Genus Indopacetus
          • Indopacetus pacificus, Longman's beaked whale
        • Genus Mesoplodon, Mesoplodont whales
          • Mesoplodon bidens, Sowerby's beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon bowdoini, Andrews' beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon carlhubbsi, Hubbs' beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon densirostris, Blainville's beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon europaeus, Gervais' beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon ginkgodens, Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon grayi, Gray's beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon hectori, Hector's beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon layardii, Strap-toothed whale
          • Mesoplodon mirus, True's beaked whale,
          • Mesoplodon peruvianus, Pygmy beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon perrini, Perrin's beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon stejnegeri, Stejneger's beaked whale
          • Mesoplodon traversii, Spade-toothed whale
      • Subfamily Ziphiinae
        • Genus †Caviziphius
        • Genus †Izikoziphius
        • Genus Tasmacetus
          • Tasmacetus sheperdi, Shepherd's beaked whale
        • Genus Ziphius
          • Ziphius cavirostris, Cuvier's beaked whale
      • Subfamily Incertae sedis
        • Genus †Nenga
        • Genus †Pterocetus
        • Genus †Xhosacetus

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