Delphinidae - dolphins, killer whales, pilot whales There are 36 species in this family. Delphinids have a torpedo-shaped body; a long beak-like snout; cone-shaped teeth; a blow hole; and a bulging forehead. The bulge in their forehead is cause by the melon. The melon is a fatty bulge between the dolphin's skull and blow hole that is used for echolocation. Most species also have a curved dorsal fin.



Delphinids are found in all of the world's oceans and some species are found in rivers. They are usually found in shallow water. Most species live in large groups called pods. Delphinids are fast and agile swimmers. Delphinids use echolocation to locate prey like fish and squid. Killer whales also eat seals and penguins. World Status Key

Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered

Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct

Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species. US Status Key

Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Introduced

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game New Hampshire Species North/Central American Species Short-beaked Saddleback Dolphin - Delphinus delphis Killer Whale - Orcinus orca

Melon-headed Whale - Peponocephala electra

False Killer Whale - Pseudorca crassidens

Guiana Dolphin - Sotalia guianensis

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin - Stenella attenuata

Clymene Dolphin - Stenella clymene

Striped Dolphin - Stenella coeruleoalba

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin - Stenella frontalis

Spinner Dolphin - Stenella longirostris

Rough-toothed Dolphin - Steno bredanensis

Common Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncatus North/Central American Species Long-beaked Common Dolphin - Delphinus capensis

Pygmy Killer Whale - Feresa attenuata

Short-finned Pilot Whale - Globicephala macrorhynchus

Long-finned Pilot Whale - Globicephala melas

Risso's Dolphin - Grampus griseus

Fraser's Dolphin - Lagenodelphis hosei

Atlantic White-sided Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus acutus

White-beaked Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus albirostris

Pacific White-sided Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus obliquidens

Northern Right Whale Dolphin - Lissodelphis borealis Species Around the World Location Key



Africa Antarctic Region Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH

Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranean/Black Sea Pacific Ocean Cephalorhynchus commersonii

Chilean Dolphin - Cephalorhynchus eutropia

Heaviside's Dolphin - Cephalorhynchus heavisidii

Hector's Dolphin - Cephalorhynchus hectori

Long-beaked Common Dolphin - Delphinus capensis

Short-beaked Saddleback Dolphin - Delphinus delphis

Pygmy Killer Whale - Feresa attenuata

Short-finned Pilot Whale - Globicephala macrorhynchus

Long-finned Pilot Whale - Globicephala melas

Risso's Dolphin - Grampus griseus

Fraser's Dolphin - Lagenodelphis hosei

Atlantic White-sided Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus acutus

White-beaked Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus albirostris

Peale's Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus australis

Hourglass Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus cruciger

Pacific White-sided Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus obliquidens

Dusky Dolphin - Lagenorhynchus obscurus

Northern Right Whale Dolphin - Lissodelphis borealis

Southern Right Whale Dolphin - Lissodelphis peronii

Irrawaddy Dolphin - Orcaella brevirostris

Australian Snubfin Dolphin - Orcaella heinsohni

Killer Whale - Orcinus orca

Melon-headed Whale - Peponocephala electra

False Killer Whale - Pseudorca crassidens

Tucuxi - Sotalia fluviatilis

Guiana Dolphin - Sotalia guianensis

Indo-pacific Hump-backed Dolphin - Sousa chinensis

Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin - Sousa teuszii

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin - Stenella attenuata

Clymene Dolphin - Stenella clymene

Striped Dolphin - Stenella coeruleoalba

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin - Stenella frontalis

Spinner Dolphin - Stenella longirostris

Rough-toothed Dolphin - Steno bredanensis

Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops aduncus

Common Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncatus Commerson's Dolphin -Chilean Dolphin -Heaviside's Dolphin -Hector's Dolphin -Long-beaked Common Dolphin -Pygmy Killer Whale -Short-finned Pilot Whale -Long-finned Pilot Whale -Risso's Dolphin -Fraser's Dolphin -Atlantic White-sided Dolphin -White-beaked Dolphin -Peale's Dolphin -Hourglass Dolphin -Pacific White-sided Dolphin -Dusky Dolphin -Northern Right Whale Dolphin -Southern Right Whale Dolphin -Irrawaddy Dolphin -Australian Snubfin Dolphin -Killer Whale -Melon-headed Whale -False Killer Whale -Tucuxi -Guiana Dolphin -Indo-pacific Hump-backed Dolphin -Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin -Pantropical Spotted Dolphin -Clymene Dolphin -Striped Dolphin -Atlantic Spotted Dolphin -Spinner Dolphin -Rough-toothed Dolphin -Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin -Common Bottlenose Dolphin -