Talk:Cetacea

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Cetaceans

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Cetaceans, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of cetaceans on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CetaceansWikipedia:WikiProject CetaceansTemplate:WikiProject CetaceansCetaceans

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Sentence regarding sperm whales is missing two nouns.

A sentence in the article currently reads, “The sperm whale has a particularly pronounced melon; this is called the and contains the eponymous , hence the name "sperm whale".

The missing first noun appears to be ‘junk’ per an article in the Encyclopedia Brittanica. The missing second noun appears to be ‘spermaceti’. 2A00:C280:101:41:6800:6D10:2028:38 (talk) 11:18, 24 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Both appear to be in the text, please try clearing your cache. CMD (talk) 11:59, 24 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Cetaceans may have come from even toed ungulates, but they are a different order

Even though cetaceans came from even toed ungulates, they have enough derived traits to be it's own order. Therefore, the page should show that Cetacea is it's own order, like traditional taxonomy shows. 68.48.8.60 (talk) 13:13, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

"Traditional" taxonomy has moved on. What you learned in 3rd grade is outdated. Modern taxonomy is what we follow. - UtherSRG (talk) 14:05, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Cetaceans having been determined to have evolved from even-toed ungulates means Cetacea is a subtaxon of Artiodactyla. To present Cetacea as a distinct order according to "traditional taxonomy" would be use outdated information as UtherSRG also stated. Mr Fink (talk) 14:14, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You're saying that even if cetaceans have a lot of derived traits, they will always be artiodactyls? 68.48.8.60 (talk) 21:19, 11 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Is this because we don't classify organisms based on morphological characteristics? 68.48.8.60 (talk) 21:23, 11 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Eukaryotes are not classified as archaeans due to differences. Why should cetaceans be classified as even toed ungulates? 68.48.8.60 (talk) 21:30, 11 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Recent genomic analyses done in the last twenty years routinely show that cetaceans are closely related to hippopotamuses, that. Coupled with obvious fossil evidence of primitive whales and semiaquatic artiodactyls having both hourglass-shaped bullae, a feature of whales, and pulley-shaped astragaluses, a feature of artiodactyls, are why Cetacea is now a subtaxon of Artiodactyla. To insist that Cetacea be treated as a separate order because of "traditional taxonomy" is to use outdated information. Mr Fink (talk) 23:27, 11 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

We, as Wikipedia editors, do not make decisions as to what the taxonomy is. We follow the established scientific literature. - UtherSRG (talk) 22:09, 11 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Smallest

We mention the Blue Whale being the largest mammal, but can we also mention the smallest (fully grown) cetacean species? Which is it? Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 13:13, 29 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I'm always wary of these largest/smallest members (see the arguments over felids). The blue whale I think is universally considered the largest cetacean, but I don't know if such consensus exists for the smallest. According to The Marine Mammal Center it is the Vaquita. The Wikipedia article at Vaquita makes the same claim, but I'm not sure how well-sourced as the smallest. — Jts1882 | talk 15:40, 29 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Possible incorrect claim about Balaenids

The article claims that "Balaenids (right whales and bowhead whales) have massive heads that can make up 40% of their body mass", but I can't find any reliable sources for this. I'm not super experienced on finding sources but there don't seem to be any so I think the claim could be incorrect. Cosignated (talk) 17:24, 9 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It's also weirdly out of line with the statements for the other two main groups of baleen whales, which focus on feeding strategy. Strange addition. The Morrison Man (talk) 21:20, 9 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]