Marine mammals include whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and dugongs. Approximately 45 species of whales and dolphins live in or migrate through Australian waters. The mammals listed on Redmap include those that we need more distribution information on in general - and not just potential range-extending species.

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  Blue whale

  Balaenoptera musculus

  Blue whales have very long slender bodies with a relatively small dorsal fin located approximately two thirds the way along the body. They …

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  Common dolphin

  Delphinus delphis

  The common dolphin is a relatively small uniquely patterned delphinid that has a dark grey/brown upper body with a paler underside and ligh…

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  Dugong

  Dugong dugon

  ADULTS: grey, lighter ventrally; long fusiform body with paddle shape front flippers and a horizontally flattened tail; no dorsal fin; dist…

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  Southern right whale

  Eubalaena australis

  The Southern Right whale is a large stocky whale that is largely dark in colour with patches of raised white skin known as callosities arou…

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  Humpback whale

  Megaptera novaeangliae

  The Humpback whale can be distinguished by its uniquely large flippers which are approximately one third the length of the body. It is dark…

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  Australian snubfin dolphin

  Orcaella heinsohni

  Adults have three tone colour with a dark back, white abdomen and light grey to brownish grey sides. Snubfin have a distinctive bulbous hea…

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  Killer whale

  Orcinus orca

  The killer whale is the largest of all dolphins. It has a robust black body with a distinct white patch behind the eye that will vary in sh…

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  Australian humpbacked dolphin

  Sousa sahulensis

  Adults are generally grey with paler sides and mottling. Juveniles are more uniformly grey but become paler with age. They have a long beak…

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  Tasman beaked whale

  Tasmacetus shepherdi

  Very little is known about this elusive beaked whale. Shepherd’s beaked whale has only been captured on film a handful of times, including …

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  Burrunan dolphin

  Tursiops australis

  The Burrunan dolphin was only recently classified as a new species (in 2011). While is resembles the common bottlenose dolphin, it is small…

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  Bottlenose dolphin

  Tursiops truncatus

  The common bottlenose dolphin is quite robust and variable. They have a dark slate-grey back and a cream underside, and some individuals sh…