| Monodontidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Beluga whale | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Superfamily: | Delphinoidea |
| Family: | Monodontidae J. E. Gray, 1821 |
| Type genus | |
| Monodon C. Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Extant genera | |
Thecetacean familyMonodontidae comprises two livingwhale species, thenarwhal and thebeluga whale and at least four extinct species, known from the fossil record. Beluga and narwhal are native to coastal regions and pack ice around theArctic Ocean. Both species are relatively small whales, 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) in length, with a foreheadmelon, and a short or absent snout. Premaxillary teeth are absent.[1] They do not have a true dorsal fin, but do have a narrow ridge running along the back, which is much more pronounced in the narwhal. They are highly vocal animals, communicating with a wide range of sounds. Like other whales, they also useecholocation to navigate.[2] Belugas can be found in the far north of theAtlantic andPacific Oceans; the distribution of narwhals is restricted to the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
Monodontids have a wide-rangingcarnivorous diet, feeding on fish, molluscs, and small crustaceans. They have reduced teeth, with the beluga having numerous simple teeth, and the narwhal having only two teeth, one of which forms the tusks in males.Gestation lasts 14–15 months in both species, and almost always results in a single calf. The young are notweaned for a full two years, and do not reach sexual maturity until they are five to eight years of age. Family groups travel as part of herds, or 'pods', which may contain several hundred individuals.[2]
The monodontids,oceanic dolphins (Delphinidae) andporpoises (Phocoenidae) together comprise theDelphinoidea superfamily. Genetic evidence suggests the porpoises are more closely related to the monodontids, and these two families constitute aclade that diverged from the oceanic dolphins within the past 11 million years.[3][4]
Media related toMonodontidae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toMonodontidae at Wikispecies| National | |
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