While they are often called "sea canaries" due to their high-pitched vocalizations, they are not dolphins. Belugas belong to the family Odontocetes, which includes all toothed whales.
Here's the breakdown:
* Whales are a large group of marine mammals that include both toothed and baleen whales.
* Dolphins are a family within the Odontocetes, meaning they are toothed whales.
* Belugas are also a family within Odontocetes, making them toothed whales, but not dolphins.
So, while belugas share some similarities with dolphins, they are distinct and belong to a different family within the broader category of whales.