Species Directory

Marine Mammals

All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Some are also protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

NOAA Fisheries has jurisdiction over approximately 119 marine mammal species, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has jurisdiction over polar bears, walruses, sea otters, manatees, and dugongs. 
 

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Species Illustration Species Name Species Category Protected Status
placeholder--dolphin.png
Sousa teuszii
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered - Foreign
    Year Listed
    2024
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix I
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Side profile illustration of Atlantic spotted dolphin. Credit: Jack Hornady.
placeholder--dolphin.png
Stenella frontalis
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-Atlantic-White-Sided-Dolphin.jpg
placeholder--dolphin.png
Lagenorhynchus acutus
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Side profile, left-facing illustration of Baird's beaked whale. Credit: Jack Hornady for NOAA Fisheries.
placeholder--whale.png
Berardius bairdii
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
bearded seal illustration
placeholder--seal.png
Erignathus barbatus
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Beringia DPS
    Species Status
    ESA Threatened
    Year Listed
    2012
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Okhotsk DPS
    Species Status
    ESA Threatened - Foreign
    Year Listed
    2012
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Beringia DPS
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Okhotsk DPS
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
Image
Side-profile illustration of white beluga whale with round, flexible "melon" head
placeholder--whale.png
Delphinapterus leucas
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Cook Inlet DPS
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    2008
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Cook Inlet stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Sakhalin Bay-Nikolaya Bay-Amur River stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-blainvilles-beaked-whale.png
placeholder--whale.png
Mesoplodon densirostris
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Side-profile illustration of a blue whale with a molted blue-gray color and long body.
placeholder--whale.png
Balaenoptera musculus
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    1970
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Illustration of a black Bowhead whale with distinctive white chin and white details on tail.
placeholder--whale.png
Balaena mysticetus
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    1970
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix I
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Left-facing illustration of dark, sleek Bryde's whale with white underside.
placeholder--whale.png
Balaenoptera edeni
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-california-sea-lion.png
placeholder--seal.png
Zalophus californianus
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    West Coast
Image
Chinese river dolphin image
placeholder--dolphin.png
Lipotes vexillifer
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered - Foreign
    Year Listed
    1989
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix I
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-clymene-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Stenella clymene
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-Dolphin_Bottlenose_NB_W.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Tursiops truncatus
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western North Atlantic Northern Florida Coastal stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western North Atlantic Central Florida Coastal stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western North Atlantic Northern Migratory Coastal stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western North Atlantic South Carolina-Georgia Coastal stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western North Atlantic Southern Migratory Coastal stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-cuviers-beaked-whale.png
placeholder--whale.png
Ziphius cavirostris
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Side profile Dall's porpoise illustration. Credit: Jack Hornady
placeholder--dolphin.png
Phocoenoides dalli
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-Whale_Dwarf_Sperm02.jpg.jpg
placeholder--whale.png
Kogia sima
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Profile drawing of False Killer Whale
placeholder--whale.png , placeholder--dolphin.png
Pseudorca crassidens
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Main Hawaiian Islands Insular DPS
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    2012
    Region
    Pacific Islands
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Main Hawaiian Islands Insular stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
Illustration of fin whale.
placeholder--whale.png
Balaenoptera physalus
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    1970
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix I
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-frasers-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Lagenodelphis hosei
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-gervais-beaked-whale.png
placeholder--whale.png
Mesoplodon europaeus
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-gray-seal.png
placeholder--seal.png
Halichoerus grypus
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
Image
640x427-gray-whale.png
placeholder--whale.png
Eschrichtius robustus
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western North Pacific DPS
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    1994; 1970 (original)
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western North Pacific DPS
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix I
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-guadalupe-fur-seal.png
placeholder--seal.png
Arctocephalus townsendi
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Threatened
    Year Listed
    1985
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix I
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
harbor porpoise illustration
placeholder--dolphin.png
Phocoena phocoena
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Southeast
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---