Cetaceans of French Polynesia

Twenty species of cetartiodactyls - or cetaceans - are regularly sighted in the Polynesian marine environment. These include four mysticete species - commonly called ‘baleen whales’ - and 16 odontocete species or ‘toothed whales’ - two sperm whale species, three beaked whale species and 11 dolphin species. Eight of the most commonly observed species are displayed below…