KidZone Animals
Toothed Whales (Odontoceti)

Odontoceti (Toothed whales)

Toothed whales, known as Odontoceti, are characterized by their possession of teeth and their ability to echolocate. Toothed whales use echolocation to navigate and hunt for their prey in the ocean's depths, making them highly effective predators.

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

• Family: Physeteridae
• Description: The largest of the toothed whales, known for their massive heads and prominent rounded foreheads. They have a distinctive blowhole located on the left side of their head.
• Habitat: Found in all the world's oceans, typically in deep waters

Mondodontidae

The family Monodontidae includes two unique species, both adapted to life in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.

Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

• Family: Monodontidae
• Description: Known for their white color and high-pitched, bird-like calls. They are highly social and often found in groups.
• Habitat: Found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, primarily in shallow coastal waters and river estuaries.

Narwhal (Monodon monoceros)

• Family: Monodontidae
• Description: Known for the long, spiral tusk that protrudes from the males' heads, which is actually an elongated tooth. They are often called the "unicorns of the sea."
• Habitat: Found in Arctic waters, primarily around Greenland, Canada, and Russia.