Cetaceans - Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
Whales
All cetaceans are mammals, so although otherwise fully adapted to aquatic life and unable move around on land, they still need to breathe air. Unfortunately, on rare occasions they do come ashore and although they won't immediately die, like a fish out of water, if you come across any cetacean stranded on the beach it is in dire trouble : click here for advice on what to do. |
Of the twenty species of whale recorded in British waters, these are the ones most likely to be encountered. Please note - drawings are not to scale relative to each other. |
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Minke whale Baleen whale with double blowhole and white bands on pectoral fins. Adult length 8 metres |
Sperm whale Square forehead and narrow lower jaw, single blow hole left of centre. Fins proportionately small. Adult length up to 20 metres. |
This is the species which became famous when one swam up the Thames in 2006. It has a distinctive 'beak' and domed forehead (melon). Adult length 9.8 metres |
Superficially similar to the Minke whale but has no white bands on its fins, a single blowhole and grows to 20 metres. |
Humpback whale Baleen whale with noticeably long white pectoral fins. Fleshy tubercles on head, small dorsal fin. Adult length up to 16 metres |
Fin whale Could possibly be confused with Minke or Sei whales when young but may grow to in excess of 26 metres, making it the second largest animal on earth (the largest being the Blue Whale at 33 metres). On their right sides their lower lip, mouth cavity and baleen plates are white, whilst the left side is dark; the dorsal fin is larger and set further back than on the Sei and Minke. |
Porpoise and dolphin identification