List of mammals of Tokelau facts for kids

Tokelau is a small group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Even though it's tiny, its waters are home to some amazing sea creatures! This article is all about the mammals you can find swimming around Tokelau. All five of these mammals are a special type called cetaceans.

Whales and Dolphins of Tokelau

What are Cetaceans?

Spinner dolphins are often seen in tropical waters.

Cetaceans are a group of mammals that live their entire lives in water. This group includes all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They are super adapted to life in the ocean. Their bodies are shaped like a torpedo, which helps them glide through water easily. They have very little hair and a thick layer of blubber. This blubber helps them stay warm in the cool ocean. Their front limbs have changed into flippers, and their tails are powerful. These features help them push themselves through the water.

Types of Whales and Dolphins

The cetaceans found near Tokelau are all part of a group called Odontoceti. This means they are toothed whales. Unlike baleen whales, which filter feed, toothed whales have teeth. They use their teeth to catch fish, squid, and other prey.

Toothed Whales (Odontoceti)

• Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
  • Sperm whales are the largest toothed predators on Earth. They can grow very big. They are known for their huge, square-shaped heads. These whales dive very deep to hunt for giant squid. They are listed as Vulnerable (VU), meaning their populations need protection.

• Beaked Whales
  • Two types of beaked whales have been recorded near Tokelau. These are the Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) and the Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens).
  • Beaked whales are quite mysterious. They spend a lot of time in deep waters. They are often hard to spot and study. Both of these species are listed as Data Deficient (DD). This means scientists don't have enough information to know how many there are or if they are at risk.

• Marine Dolphins
  • Dolphins are smaller, very smart toothed whales. They are known for being playful and social.
    • Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
      • Spinner dolphins are famous for their amazing acrobatic jumps. They often spin in the air as they leap out of the water. They live in large groups and are common in warm ocean waters. Their conservation status is Lower Risk/conservation dependent (LR/cd).
    • Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata)
      • Despite its name, the pygmy killer whale is actually a type of dolphin. It's smaller than the famous orca (killer whale). They are also quite shy and not seen very often. Like some beaked whales, their status is Data Deficient (DD). More research is needed to understand their populations.

See also

• List of chordate orders
• Lists of mammals by region
• List of prehistoric mammals
• Mammal classification
• List of mammals described in the 2000s