---
title: "Beluga"
description: "Delphinapterus leucas — Mammiferi. The beluga whale () or the white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/beluga
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Beluga

> Delphinapterus leucas — Mammiferi. The beluga whale () or the white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean.

- Scientific name: *Delphinapterus leucas*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammiferi)
- Habitats: `sea` (Mare e costa), `arctic` (Artico)
- iNaturalist observations: 2522
- Wikidata: [Q132072](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132072)
- iNaturalist taxon: [41461](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41461)

## Names

- en: Beluga
- de: Weißwal
- es: Beluga
- fr: Béluga
- nl: Beloega
- pt: Baleia-branca
- pl: Białucha arktyczna

## Countries with the most observations

CA (1066), US (287), SJ (152), RU (96), NL (15), NO (13), GB (8), BE (3)

## Summary

The beluga whale () or the white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. It is one of two living members of the family Monodontidae, along with the narwhal, and the only member of the genus Delphinapterus. It is also known as the sea canary, due to its high-pitched calls; and the melonhead, though that more commonly refers to the melon-headed whale, which is an oceanic dolphin.
The beluga is adapted to life in the Arctic, with anatomical and physiological characteristics that differentiate it from other cetaceans. Amongst these are its all-white colour that gives the whale its name; and…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beluga_whale

## Photo

![Beluga](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/beluga/medium.jpg)

Photo: steve b · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173067519

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/beluga?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).