Toothed whale

The toothed whales (Latin name odontoceti) form a suborder of the cetaceans. The suborder contains six families:

• Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins)
• Monodontidae (Beluga and Narwhal)
• Phocoenidae (porpoises)
• Physeteridae (of which the Sperm Whale is the only species)
• Platanistoidea (river dolphins, sometimes characterized as a superfamily)
• Ziphiidae (beaked whales)

As the name suggests, the suborder is characterized by having teeth (rather than baleen as do animals in the other suborder of cetaceans, mysticeti). Not all species are believed to use their teeth for feeding. For instance, the Sperm Whale is likely to use its teeth for aggression and showmanship.