Here's a breakdown:
* Cetaceans are divided into two suborders:
* Odontocetes - toothed whales, which include dolphins, porpoises, and other toothed whales like orcas.
* Mysticetes - baleen whales, which have baleen plates instead of teeth for filtering food from the water.
Therefore, dolphins are most closely related to other toothed whales (Odontocetes).
Here are some examples of animals closely related to dolphins:
* Porpoises: They share many similarities with dolphins, but they are generally smaller and have a more blunt head.
* Orcas (killer whales): These are the largest members of the dolphin family and are highly intelligent and social animals.
* Other ocean dolphins: There are many different types of dolphins, including bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, and spinner dolphins, among others.
* River dolphins: These dolphins live in freshwater rivers and are adapted to their specific environments.
It's important to note that while dolphins are closely related to other toothed whales, they are NOT closely related to any land mammals. Their evolutionary history is unique, with their ancestors adapting to life in the water millions of years ago.