dolfijnachtige

Dolfijnachtige is a Dutch term meaning dolphin-like. In a scientific and natural-history context, it is used as a descriptive label for a broad group of aquatic mammals within the order Cetacea that share a streamlined body and adaptations for active swimming and echolocation. The expression is not a formal taxonomic clade, but it is commonly applied to toothed whales and the animals typically perceived as dolphin-like, including true dolphins, porpoises, belugas, narwhals, beaked whales, and sperm whales.

Most dolfijnachtige belong to the suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales). This group contrasts with the baleen whales (Mysticeti), which have baleen plates instead of teeth. Odontocetes rely on echolocation to navigate and locate prey, and they generally have one or more rows of teeth. The term covers a wide diversity of species with varying sizes, diets, and behaviors, from the social dolphins of Delphinidae to solitary beaked whales and highly intelligent species such as the orca or the beluga.

Geographically, dolfijnachtige occur worldwide, from open oceans to some river systems. They inhabit polar, temperate, and tropical waters and often undertake long migrations. Many species are highly social, forming pods with complex vocalizations and cooperative behaviors. Their diets are primarily fish and squid, though feeding strategies vary considerably among species.

The fossil record of odontocetes dates to the late Eocene, with diversification continuing through the Cenozoic. Ongoing threats include bycatch, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change, affecting several populations and necessitating conservation efforts. The term remains a convenient, non-technical label used to describe the dolphin-like aspects of these diverse mammals.