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Sort the names of cetaceans into the categories of dolphin, porpoise or whale. NOTE: only the name minus label is displayed (e.g. for "blue whale", option displayed will simply say "blue").
This small porpoise lives in the Gulf of California in Mexico. At the time of writing this quiz (June 2026), it is thought that only 10-20 remain. However, conservationists are working hard to prevent their extinction.
2. Omura's
Answer: Whale
This whale, previously thought to be a pygmy subspecies of Bryde's whale, is named in honour of Japanese cetologist Hideo Omura. Adults tend to grow to around 11 metres (36.09 feet) long.
3. Hector's
Answer: Dolphin
This dolphin is relatively easy to identify at sea due to its distinctively shaped dorsal fin and unique colouring. One subspecies, known as Maui's dolphin, is only found in New Zealand waters.
4. Harbour
Answer: Porpoise
Adults of this porpoise range in size from 1.4 metres (4.6 feet) to 1.9 metres (6.23 feet). In May 2017, fishermen found a two headed harbour porpoise in the North Sea. Conjoined twins are rare in wild mammals, and it is even rarer for them to survive past birth.
5. Bowhead
Answer: Whale
Also known as the Arctic right whale, great polar whale, or Greenland whale, this whale species is found in northern polar waters. They grow to 14-18 metres (46-59 feet). Their flukes (tail fins) can reach up to half their body length across (7 metres or 23 feet).
6. Orca
Answer: Dolphin
Commonly thought to be a whale, this species is actually the largest member of the dolphin family. They are found in oceans all over the world, though are most concentrated in polar waters. There are several subspecies.
7. Finless
Answer: Porpoise
There are actually three species of finless porpoise (Yangtze, Indo-Pacific and East Asian). These are the only porpoises that lack a true dorsal fin. Calves tend to feed on fish and cephalopods once weaned.
8. Sperm
Answer: Whale
Made famous by Herman Melville's book Moby Dick, which features an albino variation of the species, this is the largest species of toothed whale. They average at about 16 metres (52.5 feet). These whales are so named by early whalers. Upon splitting open the whales' heads, they found an oily liquid that is now thought to aid in sound production and projection.
The whalers decided that this liquid, contained in the spermaceti organ, looked like sperm.
9. Risso's
Answer: Dolphin
This large dolphin is usually covered in scars from fighting. They are very curious and enjoy bow-riding (when dolphins or porpoises use the pressure of the water in front of the boat to coast along, using less energy).
10. Pantropical Spotted
Answer: Dolphin
This is one of the most abundant dolphin species in the world. As the name suggests, they are usually grey or blue grey and covered with pale spots. There are two known subspecies. Adults grow to roughly 2.5 metres (8.2 feet).
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
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