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. 
 

Display All
Species Illustration Species Name Species Category Protected Status
Image
640x427-White-Beaked-Dolphin.jpg
placeholder--dolphin.png
Lagenorhynchus albirostris
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-vaquita.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Phocoena sinus
Also Known As
Gulf of California harbor porpoise, Cochito
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered - Foreign
    Year Listed
    1985
    ---
    ---
    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
Illustration of True's beaked whale
placeholder--whale.png
Mesoplodon mirus
  • 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
Illustration of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin. Credit: Jack Hornady.
placeholder--dolphin.png
Sousa chinensis taiwanensis
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin subspecies
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered - Foreign
    Year Listed
    2018
    ---
    ---
    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 a striped dolphin.
placeholder--dolphin.png
Stenella coeruleoalba
  • 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
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
    Species Status
    SPAW Annex II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
drawing of stellar sea lion
placeholder--seal.png
Eumetopias jubatus
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western DPS
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    1997; 1990 (original)
    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
    Western DPS
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Western DPS
    Species Status
    MMPA Strategic
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    West Coast
    Foreign
Image
Illustration of Stejneger's beaked whale.
placeholder--whale.png
Mesoplodon stejnegeri
  • 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
640x427-spotted-seal.png
placeholder--seal.png
Phoca largha
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Southern DPS
    Species Status
    ESA Threatened - Foreign
    Year Listed
    2010
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Southern DPS
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
Image
Side-profile illustration of a spinner dolphin with a dark gray dorsal fin, light gray side, and white belly.
placeholder--dolphin.png
Stenella longirostris
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Eastern stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    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
Side-profile illustration of a gray sperm whale with a extremely large head, narrow lower jaw, and small dorsal fins.
placeholder--whale.png
Physeter macrocephalus
  • 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-sowerbys-beaked-whale.jpg
placeholder--whale.png
Mesoplodon bidens
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
  • 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-southern-right-whale.jpg
placeholder--whale.png
Eubalaena australis
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered - Foreign
    Year Listed
    1970
    ---
    ---
    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
Left-facing illustration of short-finned pilot whale with mostly black body, white underside, and bulbous melon head
placeholder--whale.png , placeholder--dolphin.png
Globicephala macrorhynchus
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • 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
640x427-short-beaked-common-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Delphinus delphis
  • 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
    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-sei-whale.png
placeholder--whale.png
Balaenoptera borealis
  • 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-rough-toothed-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Steno bredanensis
  • 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
    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-rissos-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Grampus griseus
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • 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
ringed seal illustration
placeholder--seal.png
Phoca (pusa) hispida
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Ladoga subspecies
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered - Foreign
    Year Listed
    2012
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Saimaa subspecies
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered - Foreign
    Year Listed
    1993
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Arctic subspecies
    Species Status
    ESA Threatened
    Year Listed
    2012 (original); 2018 (reinstated)
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Baltic subspecies
    Species Status
    ESA Threatened - Foreign
    Year Listed
    2012
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Okhotsk subspecies
    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
    Ladoga subspecies
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Okhotsk subspecies
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Baltic subspecies
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Saimaa subspecies
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Arctic subspecies
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
    Foreign
Image
Left-facing side-profile illustration of a Rice's whale with sleek body that's darker gray on top and has a pale pink belly.
placeholder--whale.png
Balaenoptera ricei
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    ESA Endangered
    Year Listed
    2019
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix I
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---
Image
640x427-ribbon-seal.png
placeholder--seal.png
Histriophoca fasciata
  • Species Category
    Seals & Sea Lions
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    Alaska
Image
640x427-Whale_Pygmy_Sperm.jpg.jpg
placeholder--whale.png
Kogia breviceps
  • 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 Pygmy Killer Whale
placeholder--whale.png , placeholder--dolphin.png
Feresa attenuata
  • Species Category
    Whales
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    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-pantropical-spotted-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Stenella attenuata
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    Pacific Islands
    Southeast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Pacific northeastern offshore spotted stock
    Species Status
    MMPA Depleted
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    New England/Mid-Atlantic
    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-pacific-white-sided-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
  • 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-northern-right-whale-dolphin.png
placeholder--dolphin.png
Lissodelphis borealis
  • Species Category
    Dolphins & Porpoises
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    MMPA Protected
    ---
    ---
    ---
    Region
    West Coast
  • Name of DPS or Stock
    Throughout Its Range
    Species Status
    CITES Appendix II
    ---
    ---
    ---
    ---