Learn About Marine Mammals
Cetaceans -- whales, dolphins, and porpoises -- are among the most fascinating creatures on Earth. Explore our species fact sheets to learn about the marine mammals that call the waters off Southern California home.
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Short-beaked Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
Dall's Porpoise
Phocoenoides dalli
Gray Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
Harbor Porpoise
Phocoena phocoena
Orca / Killer Whale
Orcinus orca
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Risso's Dolphin
Grampus griseus
Cetacean Curriculum
Are you a K-5 educator? Download our free cetacean curriculum packet, designed to introduce students to the world of whales and dolphins through hands-on activities, reading materials, and discussion prompts aligned with educational standards.