Epaulard vs Hector’s Beaked Whale

Orcinus orca compared with Mesoplodon hectori

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Epaulard	Hector’s Beaked Whale
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)	Hyperoodontidae
Genus	Orcinus (Orcas)	Mesoplodon
Species	Orcinus orca	Mesoplodon hectori

Evolutionary Relationship

Epaulard and Hector’s Beaked Whale share a common ancestor at the Order level: Cetacea. (Whales & Dolphins)

Conservation Status

Epaulard

DD — Data Deficient

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Unknown ?

Hector’s Beaked Whale

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Epaulard	Hector’s Beaked Whale
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	50 years	—
Average Length	8.0 m	—
Average Weight	5.4 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Epaulard

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Hector’s Beaked Whale

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Epaulard

The largest member of the dolphin family, orcas reach up to 9 meters and 6 tonnes and are found in every ocean from Arctic to Antarctic. Apex predators living in matrilineal pods with distinct dialects, hunting strategies, and cultural traditions that differ between populations. Some populations specialize in fish, others in marine mammals. No natural predators; orcas sit at the top of every marine food chain they inhabit.