Welcome to Marine Mammals: Baleen Whales!

There are 8 families and 69 recognized species of toothed whales. All toothed whales have one external nostril, or blowhole, as well as teeth in at least in some form. Toothed whales usually use their teeth to catch prey such as squid, fish, shrimp and other creatures, and then swallow them whole or tear them into little pieces.

The 8 families namely: Physeteridae (the sperm whales), Kogiidae (dwarf and pygmy sperm whales), Ziphiidae (medium-sized, beaked whales), Delphinidae (true dolphins, small- to medium-sized), Monodontidae (only 2 species adapted to artic waters), Platanistidae (small dolphins with long slender snouts, maybe adapted to freshwater habitats), Phocoenidae (porpoises with blunt heads and spade or peg-like teeth, marine habitats). The following species that are listed below are those that can be sighted in the Philippine seas.

* I'd like to thank Mr. JML Tan for all the information and other data that has been made accessible to the EESP in regards to marine mammals. All info is courtesy of JML Tan's " A Field Guide to Whales and Dolphins in the Philippines" which is available through Bookmark.