Types of Dolphins

When we hear the word 'dolphin', what comes to mind is the endearing, intelligent bottlenose dolphin shown in movies and television shows. Though we often make the mistake of believing that there is only one kind of dolphin, there exist over 30 different types of dolphins, and including the river dolphins and porpoises, there are over 40 types of dolphins. To be precise, there are 32 types of oceanic dolphins, 5 species of river dolphins and 6 types of porpoises. Let's have a look at the different types of dolphins list.

Oceanic Dolphins

White-Beaked Dolphin: Attaining growth of up to 3 meters, these dolphins are plump looking dolphins with a blackish or gray hide. Even though they are called white beaked dolphins, they feature gray to dark gray beaks, but have a white belly. These dolphins are quite acrobatic and seen to have a unique 'rooster tail splash' while swimming rapidly.

Striped Dolphin: These dolphins can be easily distinguished by the stripes on their skin running from their beak all the way around their eyes and down to their rear sides. Hide color varies from one type of striped dolphin to another and may range from gray to brown and appear slighter darker in shade compared to common dolphins. These dolphins are awesome leapers and jump to heights of up to 7 meters. They sure will entertain you with their spins, flips and upside down leaps.

Black Dolphin: These dolphins are small dolphins growing only up to 1.4 meters. They have darker coloration as compared to the common dolphins and feature white coloration on the throat and belly region. Underwater, this dolphin appear tan brown in color. Moreover, a white spot can be found behind the flipper and a dark line is found running along the body. As compared to the other types of dolphins, not much research has been conducted on these black dolphins.

Heaviside's Dolphin: These dolphins are not quite popular and are found along the Atlantic coasts of southern Africa. The head of this type of dolphin is slightly less conical as compared to the common types, and have triangular dorsal fins. Gray coloration envelopes the head and thorax, while the dorsal side is bluish-black in color. This dark coloration makes them difficult to spot at sea. These heaviside's dolphins bear semblance to killer whales, however, they differ from them in habits and size.

Melon-Headed Dolphin: These dolphins are slightly gray in color with a dark gray face, which is why sometimes it is called the 'mask'. Their head is round in shape, which is why its called the melon-headed dolphin. However, its head is not as round as the pygmy killer dolphin. Capable of swimming quickly, these dolphins are often seen making short low leaps off the sea surface, splashing lots of water.

The other types of dolphins are as follows:

• Bottlenose dolphin
• Dusky dolphin
• Risso's dolphin
• Hector's dolphin
• Long-snouted spinner dolphin
• Peale's dolphin
• Clymene dolphin
• Long-beaked common dolphin
• Short-beaked common dolphin
• Commerson's dolphin
• Hourglass dolphin
• Pantropical dolphin
• Frasier's dolphin
• Irrawaddy dolphin
• Rough-toothed dolphin
• Atlantic spotted dolphin
• Atlantic humpback dolphin
• Atlantic white-sided dolphin
• Pacific white-sided dolphin
• Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin
• Southern right whale dolphin
• Northern right whale dolphin
• Pygmy killer whale
• False killer whale
• Orcas (killer whale)
• Long-finned pilot whale
• Short finned pilot whale

River Dolphins

There are four species of dolphins that dwell in the estuaries and freshwater rivers. The four species are as follows:

• Yangtze or Baiji river dolphin
• Boto or Amazon river dolphin
• Ganges or Indus river dolphin
• La Plata dolphin

Out of these four river dolphin species, the first three types reside in freshwater rivers, while the La plata dolphin dwells in the salt-water estuary. However, scientifically this species is clubbed with the river dolphin variety rather than the oceanic type. Living river dolphins do not bear much semblance to their oceanic cousins. Their beaks are extremely large and may even form one-fifth of the total body length. They have extremely well-developed brains and short, broad flippers. Moreover, since they live in muddy waters, they do not need vision, which is why they are almost blind.

Porpoises

The final category of dolphins in the types of dolphin list are the porpoises. Though mentioned as a category of dolphins, these species are quite different from common dolphins. They are much smaller and have been referred to as small dolphins by sailors and fishermen. They've often been overshadowed as dolphins, which is why they have not been able to emerge independently. Unlike common dolphins, their snouts are short and blunt and are shy mammals which is why we rarely see them. There are six types of porpoises, which are as follows:

• Burmeister's porpoise
• Finless porpoise
• Harbor porpoise
• Vaquita porpoise
• Spectacled porpoise
• Dall's porpoise

So, this was the list of different types of dolphins. But which dolphins are endangered from this list? The Indo-Pacific hump-back dolphin, the amazon river or pink dolphin, the Indus river dolphin and the Yangtze or Baiji river dolphin are at the risk of becoming extinct. Increasing river traffic, river contamination, destruction of tropical rain forests, dam constructions, etc. have caused these amazing sea inhabitants to reach the verge of extinction. Various volunteer programs and organizations have dedicated themselves to the noble cause of saving these dolphins, however, it is the responsibility of each and every individual to help save these endearing creatures of the sea!