WHALES
Cetacea 
   
PAGE INDEX
1. Common Dolphin, lateral view
2. Harbour Porpoise, lateral view
3. Harbour Porpoise, anterior view
4. Details
The whales are initially divided into two groups, the toothed whales and the baleen whales. Baleen whales are the very large plankton-feeders such as Humpbacks and Blue Whales. The species illustrated here are both toothed whales.
1. Common Dolphin skull, lateral view.

The skull of this species can be separated from the Bottle-nosed Dolphin, which is also common around Britain, by the number of teeth. (Common > 40, Bottle-nosed < 30 each side)

2. Harbour Porpoise, lateral view.

Lacking teeth and lower jaw.

2. Harbour Porpoise, anterior view.

Note asymmetry of skull, typical of toothed whales.

Details of Specimens Illustrated

Image 1
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis
Stage - adult
Source - Courtesy of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle
Measurements
Overall length438mm Overall width210mm
Jaw length380mm

Image 2 & 3
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena
Stage - adult
Source - Courtesy of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle
Measurements
Overall length225mm Overall width144mm

Latin Name : Delphinus "like a dolphin";xxdelphis - Greek word for a dolphin.

Latin Name : Phocoena - Greek word for a porpoise.

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