Delphinapterus is a genus of toothed whales containing a single living species, the beluga whale, one of two living members of the family Monodontidae. Belugas are known for their all white coloration, the absence of a dorsal fin, replaced by a dorsal ridge, and a large deformable melon used in echolocation; unlike most cetaceans their seven neck vertebrae are not fused, allowing lateral head movement. The genus has a discontinuous circumpolar distribution across Arctic and sub-Arctic waters near Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia, with a global population estimated around 200,000.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ16628343, descriptionView the Source 2. Wikipedia: Beluga whale
Taxonomic rank (Wikipedia confirms the entity; rank from slug/structure-wave classification)View the Source 3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Delphinapterus
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 1
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Delphinapterus
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Delphinapterus" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 7.246 ... "early_interval": "Messinian"
Wikidata: Beluga Whale
Wikidata Q132072, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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