An atlas of the
forty-four whales
From the colossal blue whale to the elusive beaked whales of the deep, every living species mapped across the branches of life.
Conservation status
Centuries of whaling, entanglement, ship strikes and a warming ocean have left many species at risk. Colour marks each species' standing on the IUCN Red List.
Whale Taxonomy Tree
Explore the taxonomic classification of whales from order down to genus level. Click the + sign to expand each category and discover the diversity of whale families and genera, you can click on any category to see the whales from it.
Conservation Status
Many whale species are endangered or threatened due to historical whaling, habitat loss, climate change, and other human activities.
Critically Endangered
Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Endangered
Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild
Vulnerable
Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild
Least Concern
Evaluated as not being at risk of extinction in the near future
Browse the taxonomy
Every family and genus in the order, and the species each one holds.
Mysticeti
- Balaenopteridae9 species
- Balaenidae4 species
- Eschrichtiidae1 species
- Cetotheriidae1 species
Odontoceti
- Physeteridae1 species
- Kogiidae2 species
- Ziphiidae24 species
- Monodontidae2 species