Beluga

Delphinapterus leucas

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Artiodactyla ›Family: Monodontidae ›Genus: Delphinapterus

About

The beluga whale (/bɪˈluːɡə/) or white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. It is 1 of 2 members of the family Monodontidae, along with the narwhal, and the only member of the genus Delphinapterus. This marine mammal is commonly referred to as the beluga or sea canary due to its high-pitched twitter. It is some times also called a melonhead, though that more commonly refers to the melon-headed whale, which is an oceanic

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Beluga?
The scientific name of Beluga is Delphinapterus leucas.
What is the conservation status of Beluga?
The Beluga has a conservation status of Least Concern.
What kingdom does Beluga belong to?
Beluga belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Beluga belong to?
Beluga belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Beluga belong to?
Beluga belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does Beluga belong to?
Beluga belongs to the order Artiodactyla.
What family does Beluga belong to?
Beluga belongs to the family Monodontidae.
What genus does Beluga belong to?
Beluga belongs to the genus Delphinapterus.

In the News

Six beluga deaths cast a shadow over rescue from Canada’s Marineland

Six members of a pod of 30 belugas, a fifth of the whales that were transferred from a marine park in Canada to facilities in the U.S. and Spain as part of a massive rescue operation, have died in the last two months. They were transported to the facilities in July and August after languishing […]

Mongabay · 10/21/2026

As Canada’s captive belugas arrive in the US, questions linger about their future

Thirteen beluga whales, part of a pod of about 30 that were left languishing in a shuttered Canadian theme park, arrived in the U.S. The first transfer of six whales happened on July 21, and another seven were shipped out on August 3. These whales are part of the emergency transfers from Canada’s Marineland to […]

Mongabay · 8/7/2026

Canadian government endorses a plan to move whales from shuttered Marineland park to US and Spain

TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s government endorsed a plan Wednesday to move the last remaining captive whales from a shuttered theme park in Ontario to aquariums in the United States and Spain — a plan that could save them from mass euthanasia if the deal goes through. There are 30 belugas and four dolphins left in the Marineland park […]

Mongabay · 6/4/2026

Beluga whales keep switching mates and it may be saving their species

Hidden beneath Arctic waters, beluga whales have long kept their family lives a mystery. By analyzing DNA from more than 600 belugas in Alaska’s Bristol Bay over 13 years, researchers uncovered a surprisingly flexible mating system: both males and females regularly have offspring with different partners over their lifetimes.

ScienceDaily Plants & Animals · 6/4/2026