Beluga whale

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The beluga whale () or the white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. It is one of two living members of the family Monodontidae, along with the narwhal, and the only member of the genus Delphinapterus. It is also known as the sea canary, due to its high-pitched calls; and the melonhead, though that more commonly refers to the melon-headed whale, which is an oceanic dolphin. The beluga is adapted to life in the Arctic, with anatomical and physiological characteristics that differentiate it from other cetaceans. Amongst these are its all-white colour that gives the whale its name; and the absence of a dorsal fin, which allows it to swim under ice with ease. It possesses a distinctive protuberance at the front of its head which houses an echolocation organ called the melon, which in this species is large and deformable. The beluga's body size is between that of a dolphin and a True's beaked whale, with males growing up to 5.5 m (18 ft) long and weighing up to...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Javier Yaya Tur / CIUDAD DE LAS ARTES Y LAS CIENCIAS from Valencia, España, CC BY 2.0