Which dolphin species is named after Antoine Risso?

The dolphin species named after Antoine Risso is Risso's dolphin.

Its scientific name is Grampus griseus. French naturalist Antoine Risso studied the animal, and his work helped form the basis for Georges Cuvier's formal description in 1812. The species' holotype included preserved skin and a skull obtained at Brest, France.

Risso's dolphins are distinctive for their large size, blunt heads and extensive pale scarring, which can make adults appear almost white. They live mainly in cold-to-temperate waters worldwide and often hunt squid and other cephalopods at depth using echolocation.

A common mix-up is the name “grampus.” Grampus is the dolphin's genus, but “grampus” was also historically used for the orca. The other choices are separate species: Hector's dolphin is a small New Zealand dolphin, Fraser's dolphin is a tropical oceanic species, and Commerson's dolphin is known for its striking black-and-white pattern.