The
beluga whale or
white whale (
Delphinapterus leucas) is an
Arctic and sub-Arctic
cetacean. It is one of two members of the family
Monodontidae, along with the
narwhal, and the only member of the
genus Delphinapterus. This
marine mammal is commonly referred to simply as the
melonhead,
beluga or
sea canary due to its high-pitched twitter.