Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic Part 8

_Steno bredanensis_

p. 135]

Body to about 8 feet (2.4 m) long.

Body dark gray to purplish gray on back with white or pink blotches on sides; belly white.

Body frequently shows numerous white scars.

Head tapers gradually; beak long and slender; no clear separation of beak from forehead.

May ride bow waves.

Distribution in deep tropical waters.

[Sidenote: PYGMY KILLER WHALE

_Feresa attenuata_

p. 138]

Body to 8-9 feet (2.4-2.7 m) long.

Body black with white belly patch which may extend up sides in area of a.n.u.s.

Head rounded; no beak; lips white; lower jaw and chin may be white.

Dorsal fin to 15 inches (38 cm) tall, falcate; located near midpoint of back.

Distribution tropical and subtropical.

[Sidenote: MANY-TOOTHED BLACKFISH

_Peponocephala electra_

p. 142]

Body to about 9 feet (2.7 m) long.

Body black on back; light gray on belly.

Head rounded; no beak; underslung jaw; lips white.

Dorsal fin to 10 inches (25.4 cm), tall, distinctly back curved.

Distribution tropical (not yet reported in western North Atlantic).

[Sidenote: PYGMY SPERM WHALE

_Kogia breviceps_

p. 144]

Body to about 11 feet (3.4 m) long.

Body dark steel gray on back; lighter gray on sides; pinkish to white on belly (older animals speckled on belly).

Head blunt; jaw underslung; false gills or bracket marks on side of head.

Dorsal fin small; located in last one-third of body.

Has not been reported to ride bow waves.

Distribution in tropical and temperate waters.

[Sidenote: DWARF SPERM WHALE

_Kogia simus_

p. 148]

Body to about 9 feet (2.7 m) long.

Body dark steel gray on back; lighter gray on sides; pinkish to white on belly.

Head blunt; jaw underslung; false gills or bracket marks on side of head.

Body has two small creases on throat.

Dorsal fin like that of Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin; located near midpoint of back.

Has not been reported to ride bow waves.

Distribution poorly known; at least from Georgia to the tropical seas.

[Sidenote: HARBOR PORPOISE

_Phocoena phocoena_

p. 150]

Body to 5 feet (1.5 m) long.

Body dark brown above and white below; transition zone on sides often speckled or streaked; ventral white extends high onto side in front of dorsal fin.

Head rounded; beak small and indistinct.

Dorsal fin short and triangular.

Distribution in shallow waters from at least Delaware north; generally found insh.o.r.e; often in bays, river mouths and inlets.

Does not approach boats.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Large Whales With a Dorsal Fin

BLUE WHALE (B)[9]

_Balaenoptera musculus_ (Linnaeus 1758)

[Footnote 9: The letter in parentheses indicates whether the species is a baleen (B) or a toothed (T) whale.]

Other Common Names

Sulphur-bottom.

Description