An updated, annotated checklist of the marine mammals of Hong Kong

Records of marine mammal strandings, sightings, and captures from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China, were reviewed. A total of 16 species of cetaceans (1 baleen whale and 15 toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises) have been confirmed to occur in Hong Kong. An additional two species of baleen whales have been reported, but cannot be confirmed at this time (in fact, we suspect that they are both misidentifications). Additional species may have occurred in Hong Kong in the past; however, the dugong and the gray whale have probably been extirpated from the area. Of those species found to be present in the area, only two are regularly observed in Hong Kong waters and are considered residents: the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides).