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Dolphins, whales, and porpoises are mammals called cetaceans. Dolphins and porpoises look a lot a like, but they have different snouts and teeth. Dolphins have a beak-like snout and cone-shaped teeth. Porpoises have a rounded snout and flat shaped teeth. Whales are much larger than dolphins or porpoises. They are one of biggest mammals. Whales are found mostly in salt water.

Dolphins range from 4 to 30 feet in size. They weigh from about 100 pounds to 10 tons. The largest dolphins reach a length of about fifteen feet, but most species are seven to ten feet long. The most familiar types of dolphins are the bottle-nosed dolphin and the common dolphin. The bottle-nosed dolphin is the best known type of dolphin. This dolphin has a short beak that gives the dolphin a smile like expression. Most performing dolphins at aquariums and zoos are bottle-nosed.

Dolphins and porpoises are often called "small whales." Dolphins have lungs and breath through a single nostril called a blowhole located at the top of their head. The blowhole is open when they surface to breath. Dolphins and porpoises have two flippers. They also have a tail that is horizontal, unlike fish.

Dolphins are closely related to whales and porpoises. Like porpoises and whales, dolphins are mammals. Unlike fish, dolphins have lungs and are warm blooded. Dolphins are probably the most intelligent animals along with chimpanzees and dogs.