Scotia. Note the prominent dorsal fin and the blotches of grayish-white
coloration on the body. Northern bottlenosed whales reach 32 feet (9.8
m) in overall length. (_Photo by H. E. Winn._)]
[Illustration: Figure 68.--Views of the heads of male northern
bottlenosed whales off Nova Scotia. Note the distinctive beak (right)
and the bulbous forehead, features which develop with age and are most
pronounced in adult males. In the animal on the left, note also the low
bushy blow emanating from the indented area on the top of the head.
(_Photos by H. E. Winn._)]
[Illustration: Figure 69.--Northern bottlenosed whales occasionally
raise their tail flukes when beginning a dive. At close range, these
flukes can often be seen to lack a distinctive notch on the rear margin.
(_Photo from off Nova Scotia by J. Hain._)]
[Illustration: Figure 70.--A stranded northern bottlenosed whale from
Holland. Note the bulbous forehead, the long dolphinlike beak and the
frequent absences of a notch in the rear margin of the tail flukes.
(_Photo by J. P. Strijbos, courtesy of Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke
Historie te Leiden._)]
GOOSEBEAKED WHALE (T)
_Ziphius cavirostris_ G. Cuvier 1823
Other Common Names
Ziphius, Cuvier's beaked whale, grampus (St. Vincent) (see also p. 96).
Description
Goosebeaked whales reach a length of 23 feet (7 m). Females are slightly
larger than males of the same age. Calves are probably less than about 6
feet (1.8 m) at birth. The head is small relative to the body length
and, when viewed laterally, is slightly concaved or scooped on the upper
margin. The cleft of the mouth is small, smaller than in any other
species of beaked whales. The beak is indistinct in larger individuals.
There is a distinct indentation on the back behind the head. Two teeth
are found at the tip of the lower jaw of adult males only.
The dorsal fin is relatively tall and distinct, to at least 15 inches
(38.1 cm), smoothly falcate, and located well behind the midpoint of the
back. The blowhole is located far forward on the top of the head. The
blow, which may project slightly forward and slightly off to the left,
is usually low and inconspicuous. Though the first blow after a long
dive may be more distinct, even it is rarely visible even under good
wind conditions for more than a few hundred yards.
Descriptions of the color pattern vary. Individuals may be dark rust
brown, slate gray, or fawn colored on the back and generally lighter on
the belly. Some appear dark in both regions, still others--particularly
youngsters--appear lighter gray or tan on the belly. The body is
frequently covered with white or cream-colored blotches (particularly on
the belly). The tail flukes are dark on the bottom. The head is
frequently paler in color. Old males have a distinct white head and are
frequently extensively scarred.
Natural History Notes
Goosebeaked whales frequently occur in groups of from 10 to as many as
25 individuals. They have been reported to jump clear of the water. They
are presumably deep divers and are known to stay down for more than 30
min. When they begin a deep dive, they often raise their tail flukes
above the surface and dive nearly vertically. Goosebeaked whales feed
primarily on squid.
May Be Confused With
So little is known of the external appearance and behavior of the living
beaked whales at sea that all the species may easily be confused.
Goosebeaked whales are larger than all other beaked whale species with
the exception of the northern bottlenosed whale. Upon close examination
they may be distinguished from the northern bottlenosed whale by the
lighter coloration of the head, reaching an extreme in the white head of
adult males. (See p. 67 and Fig. 75.)
Distribution
As with other species of beaked whales seldom encountered or at least
seldom positively identified at sea, the distribution of goosebeaked
whales is poorly known and must be constructed from records of stranded
specimens. Such records, often involving sick individuals that may have
washed ashore from considerable distances, may give an inaccurate
picture of normal ranges.
In general, stranding reports suggest that goosebeaked whales are
sparsely but widely distributed in nonpolar latitudes. They appear to be
primarily tropical in distribution, though they venture into temperate
areas in summer. They have been reported from Massachusetts and Rhode
Island south to Florida and thence to the islands of the West Indies.
They are frequently stranded along the Florida coast and are not an
uncommon species in the extant whale fishery of the Antillean Islands.
The fact that goosebeaked whales strand more frequently than other
beaked whales may reflect either a greater abundance or a greater
tendency to approach close to shore.
They are probably primarily an offshore species.
Stranded Specimens
To be positively identified, stranded goosebeaked whales in an advanced
state of decomposition may require museum preparation and examination of
the skull and teeth. Fresh specimens may be tentatively identified by
the characters illustrated in the figures.
[Illustration: Figure 71.--Goosebeaked whales have been rarely seen at
sea. In these photos from the eastern tropical Pacific, note the white
head of the animal on the left. Goosebeaked whales are wary of boats and
may dive for 30 min or more. When they surface, their blow, usually very
indistinct, may project forward and slightly to the left. (_Photos by K.
D. Sexton, courtesy of National Marine Fisheries Service._)]
[Illustration: Figure 72.--A beaked whale, probably a goosebeaked whale,
jumps beside a research ship off northwestern Baja California. Note the
position and shape of the dorsal fin and the depression just behind the
head. (_Photo by S. Leatherwood._)]
[Illustration: Figure 73.--A goosebeaked whale stranded in Delaware.
Goosebeaked whales are primarily tropical in distribution, though they
apparently venture into temperate areas in summer. Note the prominent
dorsal fin, the lighter coloration of the head, and the depression just
behind the head. (_Photo from U.S. National Museum, courtesy of J. G.
Mead._)]
[Illustration: Figure 74.--A closeup of the dorsal surface of the flukes
of a juvenile goosebeaked whale stranded in the northeastern Gulf of
Mexico. Like other members of the beaked whale family, goosebeaked
whales lack a distinctive notch in the rear margin of the flukes.
(_Photo courtesy of Florida's Gulfarium._)]
[Illustration: Figure 75.--Stranded goosebeaked whales, an adult male
from northern California (top) and an immature female from the
northeastern Gulf of Mexico (bottom). Note the brownish color of the
back, marked in the adult animal by blotches of lighter gray and
numerous scratch marks, presumably tooth rakes. Note also the mouth
cleft, shorter in this species than in any other beaked whale species,
and the slightly concave appearance to the upper margin of the head. The
beak is usually less developed in large animals. The inset photo shows a
ventral view of the tip of the lower jaw of an adult male from the east
coast of Florida. The two teeth of the species are emerged above the gum
only in adult males. (_Photos by W. J. Houck (top), Florida's Gulfarium
(middle), and W. A. Huck, courtesy of Marineland of Florida (inset)._)]
OTHER BEAKED WHALES (T)
_Mesoplodon_ spp.
Other Common Names
Grampus (St. Vincent) (see also p. 96).
Description
In addition to the northern bottlenosed whale (p. 67) and the
goosebeaked whale (p. 70), four other species of beaked whales have been
reported from the western North Atlantic. All four species are known
primarily from stranded specimens and have been rarely encountered at
sea. Therefore statements of range are usually limited to inferences
from locations of strandings, and information on appearance and habits
of the species in the wild is almost totally lacking.
The infrequent encounters with beaked whales at sea may result from such
factors as 1) a low inconspicuous blow, 2) avoidance of ships, and/or 3)
distribution in small groups in offshore areas well outside the normal
boating lanes.
The following descriptions will aid primarily in identifying stranded
specimens. Though subtle differences in ranges, color patterns, and
dorsal fin shapes and positions may be helpful in narrowing the choices
of living animals, the species will continue to be extremely difficult
to distinguish from one another in the brief encounters typical at sea
until additional data are collected.
The beaked whales have the following characteristics in common: 1) two
small creases forming a V-shape on the throat, 2) the absence of a
conspicuous notch on the rear margin of the tail flukes (some specimens
have a slight indentation), and 3) the absence of functional teeth in
all except adult males. Adult males have a single pair of teeth in the
lower jaw, the position and description of which help to identify the
species. The teeth of females are not functional and only rarely emerge
from the gums. Therefore, if a stranded animal is an adult male, its
species can be determined by the position and description of the teeth.
For example, in _Mesoplodon mirus_, the teeth are located near the tip
of the lower jaw; in _M. europaeus_, they are located about a third of
the way from the tip of the snout to the corner of the mouth; in _M.
bidens_, they are nearly half way from the tip of the snout to corner
of the mouth; and in M. densirostris, they are located in large
prominences near the back of the mouth.
If the animal is a female or an immature male, however, museum
preparation and examination might be required before the species can be
positively determined. The following four sections summarize characters
of western North Atlantic beaked whales.
[Illustration: Figure 76.--An unidentified beaked whale from the
mid-Pacific. Note the marks along the back, presumably tooth rakes,
consisting of scratches that are paired and close together. A beaked
whale in the western North Atlantic marked in this manner would be a
northern bottlenosed whale (p. 67), a goosebeaked whale (p. 70), or a
True's beaked whale (p. 77). These are the only three species in which
the teeth are located close together near the tip of the lower jaw.
(_Photo by K. C. Balcomb._)]
[Illustration: Figure 77.--Various views of a herd of five or six
unidentified beaked whales, possibly dense-beaked whales, 12 miles off
Pokai Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. The animals were very shy and had low
indistinct blows, making them difficult to spot and track. As they
surfaced, individuals frequently bucked their heads and slapped the chin
against the surface, rather than rolling. They did not raise their tail
flukes when beginning their long dives. (_Photos by E. Shallenberger,
Sea Life Park, Hawaii._)
(Because so little is known of beaked whales every encounter should be
recorded in as much detail as possible.)]
[Illustration: Figure 78.--Adult male beaked whales, showing the body
profile and the relative positions of the teeth. Remember that the teeth
of females and immature males are concealed beneath the gums. (_Drawing
by L. Winn._)]
TRUE'S BEAKED WHALE (T)
_Mesoplodon minis_ True 1913
Other Common Names
None known.
Description
True's beaked whales reach a length of at least 16 feet (4.9 m) long.
They are chunky in midbody and narrow rapidly towards the tail, closely
resembling goosebeaked whales (p. 70). In overall body shape, the head
is small with a slight indentation in the area of the blowhole, a slight
bulge to the forehead, and a pronounced beak. The flippers are small
(from one-fourteenth to one-tenth the body length). The dorsal fin is
small, slightly falcate, located in the latter third of the back, and
followed by a pronounced ridge on the tail stock. The flukes, which
sometimes contain a very slight notch, are broad (to almost one-fifth
the body length).
True's beaked whales are dull black to dark gray on the back, lighter
slate gray on the sides, and white on the belly. The body is frequently
covered with light colored spots or splotches and bears numerous pairs
of scratch marks, presumably tooth rakes (Fig. 76).
The flippers are all black and are attached in the dark coloration of
the animal's side. The flukes are dark above and below.
May Be Confused With
True's beaked whales are most likely to be confused with goosebeaked
whales (p. 70) but may also be confused with any of the other beaked
whales species (p. 74 and Fig. 78).
Distribution
True's beaked whales appear to be primarily temperate in distribution.
They have been reported from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia south as
far as Flagler Beach in Florida. Northernmost records are for summer
months.
The range of True's beaked whales overlaps with that of the Antillean
beaked whale but is more northerly.
Stranded Specimens
The teeth of adult male True's beaked whales may be visible near the tip
of the lower jaw, a characteristic shared with the goosebeaked whale (p.
70) and the northern bottlenosed whale (p. 67). Both these other species
reach substantially greater maximum lengths than True's beaked whales,
however, and should be readily distinguishable by this and the number of
other highly distinctive characteristics of each species.
Females and subadult males may be confused with any of the beaked whales
species (p. 74 and Fig. 78).
[Illustration: Figure 79.--Two views of the body of a stranded True's
beaked whale from northeastern Florida. This species reaches at least 16
feet (4.9 m) and closely resembles the goosebeaked whale in general body
shape. It is distributed in temperate waters from Nova Scotia to
Florida. (_Photos courtesy of Marineland of Florida._)]
[Illustration: Figure 80.--The head of a True's beaked whale stranded in
North Carolina. Note the small head, the pronounced beak, and the
position of the blowhole in the indentation behind the forehead. The
teeth, visible above the gums only in adult males, are in the position
indicated by the arrow. The photo on the right shows the two V-shaped
throat grooves characteristic of beaked whales. (_Photos from U.S.
National Museum, courtesy of J. G. Mead._)]
ANTILLEAN BEAKED WHALE (T)
_Mesoplodon europaeus_ (Gervais 1855)
(equals _M. gervaisi_ [Deslongchamps])
Other Common Names
Gulfstream beaked whale, Gervais' beaked whale.
Description
Antillean beaked whales reach a length of at least 22 feet (6.7 m). They
are slender in form and appear somewhat laterally compressed (i.e.,
taller than they are wide). The head is extremely small and tapers
rapidly to a narrow beak. The flippers are small (to about one-twelfth
the body length) with their origin well down on the sides of the body.
The dorsal fin is small, located behind the midpoint of the back, and
variable in shape from falcate to triangular. The flukes are less than
one-fifth the body length and are not notched.
Antillean beaked whales are dark grayish black on the back and sides,
slightly lighter on the abdomen. The flukes are dark gray above and
below.
Natural History Notes
Antillean beaked whales are probably primarily oceanic in distribution
and are known to feed on squid.
May Be Confused With
Antillean beaked whales may be confused with any of the other beaked
whales though they are larger than all except the northern bottlenosed
whale (p. 67) and the goosebeaked whale (p. 70).
Distribution
Antillean beaked whales have been reported stranded from the latitude of
Long Island, N.Y. south to Florida, thence into the Caribbean and the
Gulf of Mexico.
Stranded Specimens
The teeth of Antillean beaked whales are located at the suture of the
mandible, about one-third of the way from the tip of the snout to the
corner of the mouth (Fig. 78).
[Illustration: Figure 81.--Two views of an Antillean beaked whale
stranded in New Jersey in 1899. Note the very small head, the prominent
back-curved dorsal fin, and the slightly concave rear margin of the tail
flukes, which lack a distinct notch. (_Photos by F. W. True, courtesy of
U.S. National Museum._)]
[Illustration: Figure 82.--Two views of an Antillean beaked whale
stranded in Jamaica. This species reached at least 22 feet (6.7 m) in
length. Compared to the smaller True's beaked whale, Antillean beaked
whales have a smaller head, a narrower beak, and a taller, narrower
body. Furthermore, the teeth of this species are located about one-third
of the way back from the tip of the snout to the corner of the mouth.
(_Photos by J. J. Rankin._)]
DENSE-BEAKED WHALE (T)
_Mesoplodon densirostris_ (Blainville in Desmarest 1817)
Other Common Names
None known.
Description
Dense-beaked whales reach a length of at least 17 feet (5.2 m). The body
is distinctly spindle-shaped. The head, the contour of which is the most
distinctive characteristic of this species, is marked by a prominent
rise, located near the angle of the gape on each side. This rise, which
bears the teeth, gives a peculiar high, arching contour to the mouth (p.
84), particularly in adult males.
The flippers are small (one-eleventh to one-tenth the body length) and
have their origin in the lighter color of the lower sides. The dorsal
fin varies from small and triangular to nearly falcate and pointed on
the tip. It is located behind the midpoint of the back. The flukes are
from one-sixth to one-fifth the body length, are seldom notched, and
occasionally even bulge slightly backwards near the center of the rear
margin.
Dense-beaked whales are black or charcoal gray on the back, slightly
lighter on the abdomen. They are somewhat blotched with grayish white
and are often extensively scratched or scarred. The flippers are lighter
than the back. The flukes are dark above, light below.
Natural History Notes
From stomach contents of stranded animals dense-beaked whales are known
to feed on squid.
May Be Confused With
Adult male dense-beaked whales can be separated from the other beaked
whales by the high, arching contour to the corners of the mouth. If
there is no adult male in the group, however, dense-beaked whales may be
confused with any of the other beaked whales species.
Distribution
Dense-beaked whales have been reported from Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia
south to Florida. From all accounts, this species appears widely but
sparsely distributed in warm temperate seas.
Stranded Specimens
Adults of this species should be distinguishable by the highly
distinctive contour of the mouth. The teeth, located in the high rise of
the mouth, are oriented slightly backwards.
[Illustration: Figure 83.--A dense-beaked whale in the tank at New York
Aquarium. Note the position of the prominent dorsal fin, just breaking
the surface. The blow of beaked whales is usually small and
inconspicuous and reportedly projects markedly forward from the head.
(_Photo by J. G. Mead._)]
[Illustration: Figure 84.--Views of the heads of dense-beaked whales.
Females (bottom) and immature males have a slight curvature to the rear
of the mouth. As they mature, males (middle and top) begin to display
the two arching prominences near the corners of the mouth which give the
characteristic contour to the mouth. The teeth are located in these
prominences and are oriented slightly backwards. (Photos from
_northeastern Florida by W. A. Huck, courtesy of Marineland of Florida_
(top and middle) and by J. G. Mead (bottom).)]
[Illustration: Figure 85.--A dense-beaked whale stranded in northeastern
Florida. This species reaches about 17 feet (5.2 m) and is black or
charcoal gray on the back, lighter gray on the sides, and frequently
marked with grayish-white blotches and often extensively scarred.
(_Photo by W. A. Huck, courtesy of Marineland of Florida._)]
NORTH SEA BEAKED WHALE (T)
_Mesoplodon bidens_ (Sowerby 1804)
Other Common Names
Sowerby's beaked whale.
Description
North Sea beaked whales reach a length of at least 16.5 feet (5 m). The
body is distinctly spindle-shaped, but apparently more robust near
midbody than that of the dense-beaked whale. The head is characterized
by a pronounced bulge in front of the blowhole, a slightly concave
forehead, and a moderate to long beak. The flippers are relatively long
(one-eighth to one-ninth the body length). The dorsal fin is reportedly
tall and variable in shape from triangular to slightly falcate and is
located just behind the midpoint of the back. The flukes are not notched
but are sometimes quite concave on the rear margin.
Adult North Sea beaked whales are dark charcoal gray on the back with
white spots overall. Young animals are also dark charcoal gray on the
back but are lighter on the belly and are unspotted. The flukes of
adults are dark above and below. Those of young are dark above, lighter
below.
Natural History Notes
North Sea beaked whales are known to feed on squid.
May Be Confused With
North Sea beaked whales are the most northerly species of beaked whales.
No other species is very likely to be encountered in the same area.
Distribution
North Sea beaked whales have been reported in the offshore waters from
the latitude of New England north perhaps to the pack ice. Individuals
are occasionally drawn to the coasts of Newfoundland in summer,
presumably by concentrations of squid, a known food item.
Stranded Specimens
The teeth of North Sea beaked whales are located about midway between
the tip of the snout and the corner of the mouth. Except for this
characteristic and their northerly distribution, however, this species
might easily be confused with any other of the beaked whales species.
[Illustration: Figure 86.--North Sea beaked whales are the most
northerly of the beaked whale species, extending north as far as the
pack ice. They reach at least 16.5 feet (5.0 m) and can be identified on
the beach by the position of the teeth near the middle of the lower jaw.
Little is known of the species at sea. (_Drawing by L. Winn._)]
[Illustration: Figure 87.--A female North Sea beaked whale (16.5 feet
[5.0 m]) stranded in Hjertuika in 1957. (_Photo courtesy of A.
Jonsgard._)]
KILLER WHALE (T)
_Orcinus orca_ (Linnaeus 1758)
Other Common Names
Blackfish (see also pilot whales, p. 91 and 94), sword fish (Canada),
grampus (see p. 96), whitefish (St. Vincent), Espladon (Quebec).
Description
Killer whales are the largest member of the dolphin family. Adult males
reach a length of at least 30 feet (9.1 m) and are robust in form. One
specimen of 31 feet (9.5 m) was recorded for the western North Pacific.
Females are considerably smaller and less stocky. Newborn are
approximately 7-8 feet (2.1-2.4 m) long. Killer whales have large
paddle-shaped flippers.
The most distinctive field character of the species is the dorsal fin.
In adult males it is extremely erect and may be as much as 6 feet (1.8
m) tall. Though the fin of females and immature males is less than 3
feet (0.9 m) tall, it is nonetheless taller even in these animals than
in any other cetacean species and is distinctly falcate and pointed on
the tip.
Killer whales are basically black with an extensive region of white on
the undersides extending from the lower jaw to the anal region with a
branch extending onto the flanks behind the dorsal fin. There is an oval
white patch on the side of the head just above and behind the eye. In
newborn and very young calves, these regions may be tan to lemon yellow
in color. Most animals have a light-gray saddle marking just behind the
dorsal fin. The undersides of the flukes are usually white. Both
all-black and all-white animals have been reported.
Natural History Notes
Killer whales travel in groups of from a few to 25 or 30 individuals,
though herds of 150 have been reported. Males appear polygamous, and
females and young may form groups separate from young bachelors and
bulls.