Baby Beluga Whale, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, United States

In 1776 Peter Simon Pallas first described the beluga. It is a member of the Monodontidae family, which is in turn part of the toothed whale suborder. The Irrawaddy dolphin was once placed in the same family; however, recent genetic evidence suggests otherwise. The narwhal is the only other species within the Monodontidae family besides the beluga.
The Red List of Threatened Species gives both beluga and white whale as common names, though the former is now more popular. The English name comes from the Russian белуга (beluga) or белуха (belukha), which derives from the word белый (belyy), meaning "white". It is sometimes referred to by scientists as the belukha whale in order to avoid confusion with the beluga sturgeon.
The whale is also colloquially known as the Sea Canary on account of its high-pitched squeaks, squeals, clucks and whistles. A Japanese researcher says he taught a beluga to "talk" by using these sounds to identify three different objects, offering hope that humans may one day be able to communicate effectively with sea mammals.