Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic Part 5

Flippers have transverse white band.

Head very sharply V-shaped viewed from above.

Dorsal fin falcate and distinct; usually appears simultaneous with blow.

Blow often low and indistinct.

Distribution polar, temperate, and tropical; frequently coastal.

Often curious about boats.

Flukes not raised on dive.

[Sidenote: NORTHERN BOTTLENOSED WHALE

_Hyperoodon ampullatus_

p. 67]

Body to 32 feet (9.8 m) long.

Body of young uniformly chocolate brown; body of adults brown with cream or yellow blotches.

Head bulbous in adults and white in larger animals; has distinct beak.

Dorsal fin falcate and distinct, in last one-third of back.

Distribution north temperate and Arctic-offsh.o.r.e.

Often curious about boats.

Flukes large, rarely notched; occasionally raised on long dive.

[Sidenote: GOOSEBEAKED WHALE

_Ziphius cavirostris_

p. 70]

Body to at least 23 feet (7 m) long.

Body from dark gray or brown to rust or fawn and splotched with white; eyes dark.

Head of large males white.

Back frequently scarred with numerous scratches, presumably tooth marks.

Dorsal fin falcate and distinct, in last one-third of back.

Distribution primarily tropical; extends to temperate.

Flukes light beneath, sometimes shallowly notched; often raised on dive.

[Sidenote: ALL OTHER WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC BEAKED WHALES

_Mesoplodon_ spp.

p. 74]

Body to 16-22 feet (4.9-6.7 m) long.

Body color black to dark gray.

Back frequently scarred.

Dorsal fin position varies with species.

Distribution varies with species.

Flukes not usually distinctly notched.

[Sidenote: KILLER WHALE

_Orcinus orca_

p. 84]

Body to at least 30 feet (9.1 m) long.

Body black with sharply demarcated white belly and oval white patch above and behind eye; gray saddle behind dorsal fin.

Body chunky.

Dorsal fin in males can be very tall, sometimes 6 feet (1.8 m).

Dorsal fin in females and immature animals up to 3 feet (0.9 m), distinctly falcate.

Distributed from tropics to Arctic; most common in colder waters.

Often seen in shallow bays and rivers and near sh.o.r.e.

Flukes may be raised on dive.

[Sidenote: FALSE KILLER WHALE

_Pseudorca cra.s.sidens_

p. 88]

Body to at least 18 feet (5.5 m) long.

Body black (faint gray blaze on belly between flippers).

Body slender.

Head small, tapering.

Large prominent teeth frequently visible at sea.

Flippers have distinct hump on leading edge.

Dorsal fin to 14 inches (35.6 cm), falcate, and from rounded to pointed on tip.

Distribution pelagic tropical to warm temperate seas.

Frequently ride bow waves.

[Sidenote: ATLANTIC PILOT WHALE

_Globicephala melaena_

p. 91]

Body to at least 22 feet (6.7 m) long.

Body black with light gray, anchor-shaped area on chest; gray saddle sometimes seen behind dorsal fin.

Head becoming more bulbous with age, somewhat squarish in adult males viewed from above.

Tail humped.

Flippers long (to one-fifth of body length), sickle-shaped.

Dorsal fin broad-based, falcate to flaglike, in front half of back.

Distribution primarily north temperate--about Hatteras north.

Flukes not usually raised on dive.

[Sidenote: SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE

_Globicephala macrorhynchus_

p. 94]