Whales | NOAA Fisheries
Source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/whales
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:20
Whales | NOAA Fisheries
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Whales
Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on Earth. They can be found in every ocean and range in size from the small
dwarf sperm whale
to the massive
blue whale
, the largest animal on the planet. Whales belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans.
Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales,
dolphins, and porpoises
.
Image
Baleen is a filter-feeding system inside the mouths of baleen whales.
There are two types of cetaceans: baleen and toothed. Baleen whales, or Mysticetes,
have baleen plates which sieve prey, like krill, from the water.
Toothed whales, or Odontocetes, have teeth and feed on fish, squid, and other marine mammals such as seals and sea lions.
Together with our partners, we work to ensure the conservation of whales which are all protected under the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
, and protect and recover those that are listed under the
Endangered Species Act
.
More Information
Marine Mammal Protection
Viewing Guidelines
Fun Facts about Wonderful Whales
Sounds in the Ocean
WhaleWatch
Species Directory - Whales
Species News
Feature Story
Celebrating Earth Day with NOAA Fisheries
National
Feature Story
Endangered Killer Whales Known for Isolation May Depend on Their Interaction with Other Populations
West Coast
Feature Story
The Ocean’s Underwater Ears: Tracking North Atlantic Right Whales Using Sound
Southeast
Feature Story
International Survey Counts Bowhead and Beluga Whales in the Beaufort Sea
Alaska
More News
Multimedia
Photo Gallery
2025 Large Whale Research in Photos
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Podcast
Gray Whales on the Rebound: Signs of Hope Despite Challenges
West Coast
Photo Gallery
2024 Field Fresh Blog Photo Gallery
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Researchers retrieve a passive acoustic recorder. Courtesy: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Video
Listening for Whales: Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring to Track North Atlantic Right Whales
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
All Multimedia
Research
On-Demand Gear Guide
A roadmap for providing fishermen an option to use on-demand fishing systems in the Greater Atlantic Region by 2028.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Surveys in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
We conduct research and monitoring surveys to better understand the physical, biological, economic, and social components of marine ecosystems found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from the Canadian Scotian Shelf to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Peer-Reviewed Research
Beaked Whale Dive Behavior and Acoustic Detection Range off Louisiana Using Three-Dimensional Acoustic Tracking
Echolocation clicks detected on two recorders were localized in 3D to characterize acoustic and…
Southeast
Developing Viable On-Demand Gear Systems
On-demand gear development continues to evolve with the help of industry.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Research
Understanding Marine Mammal Protections
Learn how NOAA Fisheries protects all marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Read More
Species
32
species match your filter criteria.
Baird’s Beaked Whale
Beluga Whale
Blainville's Beaked Whale
Blue Whale
Bowhead Whale
Bryde’s Whale
Cuvier's Beaked Whale
Dwarf Sperm Whale
False Killer Whale
Fin Whale
Gervais' Beaked Whale
Gray Whale
Skip to main content
Whales
Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on Earth. They can be found in every ocean and range in size from the small
dwarf sperm whale
to the massive
blue whale
, the largest animal on the planet. Whales belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans.
Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales,
dolphins, and porpoises
.
Image
Baleen is a filter-feeding system inside the mouths of baleen whales.
There are two types of cetaceans: baleen and toothed. Baleen whales, or Mysticetes,
have baleen plates which sieve prey, like krill, from the water.
Toothed whales, or Odontocetes, have teeth and feed on fish, squid, and other marine mammals such as seals and sea lions.
Together with our partners, we work to ensure the conservation of whales which are all protected under the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
, and protect and recover those that are listed under the
Endangered Species Act
.
More Information
Marine Mammal Protection
Viewing Guidelines
Fun Facts about Wonderful Whales
Sounds in the Ocean
WhaleWatch
Species Directory - Whales
Species News
Feature Story
Celebrating Earth Day with NOAA Fisheries
National
Feature Story
Endangered Killer Whales Known for Isolation May Depend on Their Interaction with Other Populations
West Coast
Feature Story
The Ocean’s Underwater Ears: Tracking North Atlantic Right Whales Using Sound
Southeast
Feature Story
International Survey Counts Bowhead and Beluga Whales in the Beaufort Sea
Alaska
More News
Multimedia
Photo Gallery
2025 Large Whale Research in Photos
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Podcast
Gray Whales on the Rebound: Signs of Hope Despite Challenges
West Coast
Photo Gallery
2024 Field Fresh Blog Photo Gallery
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Researchers retrieve a passive acoustic recorder. Courtesy: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Video
Listening for Whales: Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring to Track North Atlantic Right Whales
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
All Multimedia
Research
On-Demand Gear Guide
A roadmap for providing fishermen an option to use on-demand fishing systems in the Greater Atlantic Region by 2028.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Surveys in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
We conduct research and monitoring surveys to better understand the physical, biological, economic, and social components of marine ecosystems found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from the Canadian Scotian Shelf to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Peer-Reviewed Research
Beaked Whale Dive Behavior and Acoustic Detection Range off Louisiana Using Three-Dimensional Acoustic Tracking
Echolocation clicks detected on two recorders were localized in 3D to characterize acoustic and…
Southeast
Developing Viable On-Demand Gear Systems
On-demand gear development continues to evolve with the help of industry.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Research
Understanding Marine Mammal Protections
Learn how NOAA Fisheries protects all marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Read More
Species
32
species match your filter criteria.
Baird’s Beaked Whale
Beluga Whale
Blainville's Beaked Whale
Blue Whale
Bowhead Whale
Bryde’s Whale
Cuvier's Beaked Whale
Dwarf Sperm Whale
False Killer Whale
Fin Whale
Gervais' Beaked Whale
Gray Whale