4 Best Illustrated Atlases of the World’s Oceans
Best Whale and Dolphin Encyclopedias: 6 Top Picks
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Choosing an encyclopedia about whales and dolphins can be tricky when the books cover different species and serve different purposes.
Some offer species identification aids, while others provide broader natural-history coverage.
This time, we’ll round up six whale and dolphin encyclopedias, from regional field guides to broader marine-mammal references.
Quick-reference table of recommended products
| Product name | Format | Coverage focus | Illustration type | Reference aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Handbook of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World | Paperback | All 90 cetacean species and every subspecies worldwide | Accurate color illustrations | Distribution maps; identification tips |
 Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises | Hardcover | Around 90 cetacean species | Images | — |
 Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of North America | Paperback | All 54 species and every subspecies found off North American coasts | Illustrations | Distribution maps; identification tips |
 Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide | Cloth | Cetacean biology and species-specific natural history | Color plates | Drawings of species identifiers |
 Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals | — | Ecology, behavior, conservation, evolution, form, and function of whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals | — | — |
 Whales and Dolphins of the World | Hardcover | More than 80 whale, dolphin, and porpoise species | Color photographs | Color map |
Handbook of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World
For whale watchers looking for a guide to cetaceans worldwide, The Handbook of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World is recommended. It covers all 90 cetacean species and every subspecies. The 90 distribution maps show species ranges, and readers can use the identification tips and nearly 1,000 color illustrations when identifying species.
The book also includes facts about behavior, life history, and conservation.
Handbook of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World
Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
For readers aged 10 through adulthood who want a broad cetacean reference, Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises is recommended. It covers around 90 cetacean species, and the 2017 hardcover edition includes 400+ images. The hardcover has 300 pages and measures 10 x 10 inches.
Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of North America
For whale watchers seeking a field guide focused on North American coasts, Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of North America is recommended. It covers all 54 species and every subspecies of whale, dolphin, and porpoise found off those coasts. The distribution maps show species ranges, and the identification tips help readers tell the species apart.
The concise text covers topics ranging from dive sequences to population sizes.
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of North America
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide
This book is recommended for readers looking for an accessible introduction to cetacean biology and species-by-species natural history. Each entry includes original drawings of the species that show identifying features such as fin shape and color, tooth shape, and characteristic markings.
The book also covers topics ranging from anatomy and diet to distribution and conservation status, and includes 128 color plates.
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals
For readers seeking a broad reference on marine mammals, Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals is recommended. Its third edition covers whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, dugongs, otters, and polar bears, with material on their ecology, behavior, conservation, evolution, form, and function.
Readers interested in human impacts on marine mammals will also find new content on anthropogenic concerns, the latest information on emerging threats such as ocean noise, and material on impacts of climate change.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals
Whales and Dolphins of the World
For readers seeking an illustrated introduction to the variety, behavior, and natural history of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, Whales and Dolphins of the World is recommended. It covers more than 80 whale, dolphin, and porpoise species and includes 180 color photographs and a color map.
Whales and Dolphins of the World
Choosing a whale and dolphin encyclopedia
- Readers looking for a broad reference to many whale, dolphin, and porpoise species
- Readers interested in a field guide focused on North American coasts
- Readers looking for cetacean biology and species-specific natural history
- Readers seeking coverage of marine mammals beyond whales and dolphins
