you can help keep it alive until it can be removed. Here are a few
hints. WHILE WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE, ENDEAVOR TO KEEP THE ANIMAL AS
COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. IF IT IS NOT TOO LARGE AND SURF CONDITIONS
PERMIT, IT SHOULD BE REMOVED TO SHALLOW WATER WHERE IT IS BARELY AFLOAT.
The buoyancy of the water will reduce the stress to the animal and will
help to keep it cool and prevent overheating--a real danger to stranded
cetaceans.
Whether or not the animal can be floated, CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO
PROTECT IT FROM SUNBURN, DRYING OUT, AND OVERHEATING. IF IT IS AFLOAT,
EXPOSED PARTS SHOULD BE FREQUENTLY SPLASHED DOWN. IF IT IS HIGH AND DRY,
IT SHOULD BE COVERED WITH DAMP CLOTH, PARTICULARLY ON THE DORSAL FIN,
FLIPPERS, AND FLUKES, AND THE BODY AND THE TERRAIN SHOULD BE FREQUENTLY
WATERED TO PREVENT THE ANIMAL FROM OVERHEATING IN THE AREAS IN CONTACT
WITH THE SAND OR ROCK.
IN ANY CASE, BE CAREFUL TO LEAVE THE BLOWHOLE FREE SO THAT THE ANIMAL
CAN BREATHE. NOTE ALSO THAT THE EYES ARE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE AND
SUSCEPTIBLE TO INJURY; THEY SHOULD BE COVERED WITH A WET CLOTH AND
TREATED WITH SPECIAL CARE.
With luck, this careful handling will be rewarded with the animal's
being picked up and transported to an aquarium, where it can receive
proper attention. But even IF THE ANIMAL CANNOT BE SAVED, COLLECTION AND
EXAMINATION OF THE CARCASS CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION TO
SCIENTISTS WORKING ON THE BIOLOGY OF CETACEANS, OR ON SUCH PROBLEMS AS
THEIR DISEASE CONDITIONS AND THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS ON
THEM. DEAD STRANDED CETACEANS EVEN IN ADVANCED STAGES OF DECOMPOSITION
ARE ALSO AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF MATERIALS FOR MUSEUM STUDY AND DISPLAY.
THEREFORE, EVERY ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO GET THE CARCASS INTO THE BEST
HANDS. DEAD CETACEANS, LIKE THE LIVE ONES, ARE PROTECTED BY LAW AND MAY
NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT A PERMIT. The procedure for obtaining permission
to collect them is the same as that outlined for live strandings. The
majority of the institutions along the western North Atlantic coast will
respond to calls about live or dead strandings. Even if you are unable
to contact an appropriate official, you can still collect some valuable
information by identifying the specimen, using the following key, and by
collecting measurements (see Appendix D).
[Illustration: Appendix Figure C1.--Whales and dolphins, like this mixed
school of false killer whales and bottlenosed dolphins, sometimes strand
themselves individually or as entire herds for a complex of still
incompletely understood reasons. (_Photo from Japan by S. Ohsumi._)]
Identifying the Animal
Cetaceans may be found during or shortly after the stranding or many
months later, when the carcass is bloated or rotted nearly beyond
recognition. If the stranded animal is alive or freshly dead, it can be
identified by any of the characteristics itemized in the text. But even
if it is in an advanced stage of decomposition it can be identified
using the key below. In general numbers and descriptions of teeth (Table
1) and numbers and descriptions of baleen plates (Table 2) persist
longest as reliable identifying characteristics. If they are still
detectable on the carcass, numbers and lengths of ventral grooves may
also be used to separate the balaenopterine whales.[17]
[Footnote 17: The tables were prepared primarily from Tomilin (1967) and
supplemented by miscellaneous published papers and our own observations.
The sections on toothed whales in the key were developed following the
general outline of Moore (1953).]
In order to use the key below, begin with the first pair of opposing
characteristics--one of the two will apply to the specimen you are
examining. On the line following that statement there will be a
paragraph number, go to that paragraph. There you will find two more
paired, opposing characteristics. Again, one of the two will apply to
the specimen you are examining. Select that one and go to the paragraph
indicated on the line following it. Continue this procedure until the
statement which is true for your specimen is followed by a species name
instead of a reference to another paragraph. This name identifies the
specimen. To verify your identification go to the discussion of that
species in the text. With a little practice and careful attention to
details, identification of whales, dolphins, and porpoises will become
easier.
KEY TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF STRANDED CETACEANS OF THE WESTERN NORTH
ATLANTIC
1. a. Double blowhole; no teeth present in either jaw; baleen plates
in upper jaws. (Baleen whale) Go to 2
b. Single blowhole; teeth present (sometimes concealed beneath
the gums); no baleen plates in upper jaw.
(Toothed whale) Go to 9
2. a. Ventral grooves present; dorsal fin present; viewed in profile,
upper jaw relatively flat and broad.
(Balaenopterine whale) Go to 3
b. Ventral grooves absent; dorsal fin absent; viewed in profile,
upper jaw and lower lips strongly arched; upper jaw very narrow.
(Right whale) Go to 8
3. a. Ventral grooves end before navel.[18] Go to 4
b. Ventral grooves extend to or beyond navel Go to 5
4. a. 50-70 ventral grooves, longest often ending between flippers;
baleen less than 8 inches (20.3 cm), mostly white or yellowish
white (some posterior plates may be dark) with 15-25 white
bristles per centimeter; 300-325 plates per side.
Minke whale, p. 63
b. 38-56 ventral grooves, longest ending well short of navel;
baleen less than 31 inches (78.7 cm), black (some anteriormost
plates may be white) and with 35-60 fine silky white bristles per
centimeter; 318 340 plates per side.
Sei whale, p. 32
5. a. Flippers one-fourth to one-third length of the body length and
knobbed on leading edge; less than 22 broad and conspicuous
ventral grooves, longest extending at least to navel; head
covered with numerous knobs; baleen less than 24 inches (61 cm),
ash black to olive brown (sometimes whitish) with 10-35 grayish
white bristles per centimeter; 270-400 plates per side.
Humpback whale, p. 40
b. Flippers less than one-fifth body length; no knobs; from 40 to
100 fine ventral grooves, longest extending at least to navel;
head lacks knobs Go to 6
6. a. Three ridges on head, one from blowholes, forward towards tip
of snout, one auxiliary groove along each side of main ridge;
40-50 ventral grooves; 250-300 slate-gray baleen plates with
15-35 dirty gray bristles per centimeter.
Bryde's whale, p. 37
b. Only one prominent ridge on head,[19] from just in front of
blowholes forward towards tip of snout; 55-100 ventral grooves
Go to 7
7. a. Head broad and U-shaped; dorsal fin less than 13 inches (33 cm)
and very far back on tail stock; baleen all black with 10-30
black bristles per centimeter; plates extremely broad relative to
length.
Blue whale, p. 19
b. Head broad at gape but sharply pointed on tip; dorsal fin to
24 inches (61 cm) and slightly more than one-third forward from
tail; right front one-fifth to one-third of baleen ivory white to
yellowish white, remainder dark gray to bluish gray streaked with
yellowish white; plates have 10-35 gray or white bristles per
centimeter and are narrow relative to length.
Fin whale, p. 26
8. a. Top of snout not covered with callosities; 325-360 baleen
plates per side, longest reaching 14 feet (4.3 m); plates black
with black bristles (anterior portion of some plates may be
whitish).
Bowhead whale, p. 49
b. Top of snout covered with callosities, often including lice
and/or barnacles; 250-390 baleen plates per side, longest
reaching 7.2 feet (2.2 m); plates dirty or yellowish gray (some
anterior plates all or part white and some posterior plates brown
or black) with 35-70 bristles per centimeter.
Right whale, p. 52
9. a. Upper part of head extending appreciably past tip of lower jaw;
lower jaw markedly undershot and considerably narrower than upper
jaw Go to 10
b. Upper part of head not extending appreciably past tip of lower
jaw; lower jaw approximately same width as upper jaw Go to 12
10. a. Body more than 13 feet (4.0 m); head massive, to one-third of
body length; blowhole located far forward of eyes and to left
front of head; dorsal fin low, triangular or rounded followed by
series of knuckles or crenulations; 18-25 teeth in each lower jaw
fit into sockets in upper jaw (10-16 upper teeth rarely emerge).
Sperm whale, p. 57
b. Body less than 13 feet (4.0 m); head considerably less than
one-third body length; blowhole located approximately even with
eyes on top of head, slightly displaced to left but not on left
front of head; conspicuous dorsal fin present; 8-16 teeth in each
lower jaw fitting into sockets in upper jaw Go to 11
11. a. No creases on throat; dorsal fin small and located in latter
third of back; 12-16 teeth (rarely 10-11) in each lower jaw.
Pygmy sperm whale, p. 144
b. Inconspicuous creases on throat; dorsal fin tall and falcate,
resembling that of the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin, and located
near middle of back; 8-11 (rarely 13) extremely sharp teeth in
each lower jaw; rarely 1-3 teeth in each upper jaw.
Dwarf sperm whale, p. 148
12. a. Two conspicuous grooves on outer surface of throat forming
V-shape pointed forward; notch absent or inconspicuous in flukes.
(Beaked whale) Go to 13
b. No conspicuous grooves on outer surface of throat; deep median
notch on rear margin of tail flukes Go to 18
13. a. A pair of teeth located at the tip of the lower jaw (erupted
only in adult males, concealed in females and immature
animals) Go to 14
b. No teeth at the tip of the lower jaw Go to 16
NOTE: Immature individuals of the species covered in paragraphs 14 and
15 may not be readily identifiable without museum preparation and
examination.
14. a. Two well-developed teeth, erupted or hidden beneath the gum,
are compressed so they appear elliptical in cross section; body
to 16 feet (4.9 m); united portion of the lower jaws[20] more than
one-fourth the length of the entire lower jaw.
True's beaked whale, p. 77
b. Two well-developed teeth substantially less flattened so that
they appear more nearly rounded in cross section Go to 15
15. a. Distinct elongated beak; pronounced bulge to forehead;
blowhole located in lateral crease behind bulge; body to 32 feet
(9.8 m); sometimes second pair of teeth behind first in lower
jaw.
Northern bottlenosed whale, p. 67
b. No distinct beak; forehead slightly concave in front of
blowhole, increasing in concavity with increasing size; body to
23 feet (7.0 m); united portion of lower jaw less than one-fourth
the length of the entire lower jaw; head of adult males all
white.
Goosebeaked whale, p. 70
16. a. A single pair of teeth in the united portion of the lower jaw,
at the suture of the mandible (about one-third of the way from
the tip of the snout to the gape); length to 22 feet (6.7 m);
flukes less than one-fifth the body length.
Antillean beaked whale, p. 78
b. A single pair of teeth back of united portion of lower jaw;
body less than 17 feet (5.2 m) Go to 17
17. a. Teeth not exceptionally large and located immediately back of
united portion of lower jaw, about half way from the tip of the
snout to the gape.
North Sea beaked whale, p. 82
b. Teeth exceptionally large, located on bony prominences near
the corner of the mouth, and oriented backwards; corners of
mouth, particularly in adult males, have high-arching contour;
flukes to one-sixth or one-fifth of the body length.
Dense-beaked whale, p. 80
18. a. Rostrum, if present, not sharply demarcated from forehead Go to 19
b. Head has a distinct, though sometimes short rostrum separated
from the forehead by a distinct crease angle Go to 30
19. a. Teeth spade-shaped, laterally compressed and relatively small;
body to only about 5 feet (1.5 m); 22-28 teeth in each upper and
lower jaw.
Harbor porpoise, p. 150
b. Teeth conical and sharply pointed (in cross section circular,
or slightly flattened anteroposteriorly) Go to 20
20. a. No distinct dorsal fin; back marked instead with small dorsal
ridge near midpoint of back. Go to 21
b. Distinct dorsal fin, in middle or forward third of the back
Go to 22
21. a. 8-11 teeth in each upper jaw, 8-9 in each lower jaw; body of
young slate gray or brownish, adults white; short broad rostrum.
Beluga, p. 99
b. No visible teeth (or two teeth) in upper jaw of adults only;
in males and sometimes females one or both of these may grow up
to 9-foot (2.7 m) tusk in left-hand (sinestral) spiral; no
rostrum.
Narwhal, p. 102
22. a. Head long and conical Go to 23
b. Head blunt Go to 24
23. a. 20-27 teeth in each upper and lower jaw; crowns of teeth often
marked with many fine vertical wrinkles; body to about 8 feet
(2.4 m).
Rough-toothed dolphin, p. 135
b. 26-35 teeth in each upper and lower jaw; teeth smooth; body to
about 5.6 feet (1.7 m); distribution restricted to northern coast
of South America, in the Guianas, and adjacent eastward territory
of Venezuela.
Guiana dolphin, p. 132
24. a. Teeth usually at front end of lower jaw only, 2-7 pairs
(rarely teeth in upper jaw); all teeth may have fallen out of the
lower jaw of older specimens or may be extensively worn; forehead
with median crease; dorsal fin tall and distinct to 15 inches
(38.1 cm); body to 13 feet (4.0 m).
Grampus, p. 96
b. Teeth in both upper and lower jaws, 7 or more pairs, forehead
with no median crease Go to 25
25. a. Flippers large and paddle-shaped, ovate, and rounded on the
distal end; dorsal fin tall and erect to 6 feet (1.8 m) in males
and 3 feet (0.9 m) in females; 10-12 teeth in each jaw; teeth to
1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Killer whale, p. 84
b. Flippers long and pointed Go to 26
26. a. Dorsal fin located in forward one-third of body, very broad at
the base; head bulbous.
(Pilot whale) Go to 27
b. Dorsal fin located near midpoint of back; head long Go to 28
27. a. Flippers one-fifth of body length, or more.
Atlantic pilot whale, p. 91
b. Flippers one-sixth of body length, or less.
Short-finned pilot whale, p. 94
28. a. Flipper has distinctive hump on forward margin; 8-11 prominent
teeth curved backwards and inwards, in each upper and lower jaw.
False killer whale, p. 88
b. Flipper lacks distinctive hump on forward margin; 10-25 teeth
in each upper and lower jaw Go to 29
29. a. 8-13 teeth in each jaw.
Pygmy killer whale, p. 138
b. 20-25 teeth in each upper jaw, 21-24 teeth in each lower jaw.
Many-toothed blackfish, p. 142
30. a. Beak short, usually less than about 1 inch (2.5 cm) Go to 31
b. Beak more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) Go to 33
31. a. Flippers very short; dorsal fin small and triangular; 38-44
teeth in each jaw; body to at least 8 feet (2.4 m); distinct
black stripe from beak to area of anus; in profile beak shows
very little separation from forehead.
Fraser's dolphin, p. 120
b. Flippers long relative to body length; dorsal fin tall and
distinctly falcate; 22-40 teeth in each jaw; in profile, beak
shows distinct separation from forehead.
(_Lagenorhynchus_ sp.) Go to 32
32. a. 22-28 teeth in each jaw; dorsal fin all black; body to about
10 feet (3.1 m).
White-beaked dolphin, p. 126
b. 30-40 teeth in each jaw (some animals have greater number in
upper than in lower jaw); dorsal fin part gray, part black; body
to about 9 feet (2.7 m).
Atlantic white-sided dolphin, p. 123
33. a. 20-26 teeth in the upper jaws; 18-24 in the lower jaws; body
to 12 feet (3.7 m); teeth may be extensively worn.
Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin, p. 128
b. 26 or more teeth in both upper and lower jaws Go to 34
34. a. 29-36 teeth in each upper jaw; 28-36 in each lower jaw.
(Spotted dolphins) Go to 35
b. More than 40 teeth in each upper and lower jaw Go to 36
NOTE: Characters in paragraph 35 are usable only on fresh specimens.
Spotted dolphins in advanced stages of decomposition can be
distinguished only with museum preparation and examination.
35. a. Bridle present (dark lines from eye to rostrum and from
flippers to corner of mouth); cape on head distinct; no spinal
blaze.
Bridled dolphin, p. 108
b. Bridle absent though there is a light line from the flipper to
the eye; cape indistinct; spinal blaze.
Atlantic spotted dolphin, p. 104
36. a. From 46-65 small, sharply pointed teeth; body dark gray on
back, tan to light gray on sides, white on belly; beak dark gray
or black above, white below, and often black-tipped; body to
about 7 feet (2.1 m).
Spinner dolphin, p. 110
b. From 40 to 50 teeth in each upper and lower jaw Go to 37
37. a. Body to 9 feet (2.7 m); black to dark gray on back, gray on
sides, white on belly; distinctive black stripes from eye to
anus, eye to flipper, and dark dorsal coloration to side above
flipper.
Striped dolphin, p. 113
b. Body to 8.5 feet (2.6 m) but usually less than 7.5 feet (2.3
m); body dark on back with light thoracic patch and crisscross or
hourglass pattern on side; black stripe from middle of lower jaw
to origin of flipper.
Saddleback dolphin, p. 116
[Footnote 18: Counts of ventral grooves are made between the flippers
and do not include shorter grooves often found on the side of the head
and on the side above the flippers.]
[Footnote 19: Blue whale has faint lateral ridges.]
[Footnote 20: By feeling between the lower jaws on the ventral surface
and moving the finger forward towards the tip of the snout, one can feel
the point at which the two lower jaws become united (called the
symphysis). This location is an important reference point in
distinguishing among the species separated in paragraphs 14, 15, and
16.]
APPENDIX D
RECORDING AND REPORTING DATA ON STRANDED CETACEANS
So that measurements of cetaceans taken at different times and at widely
divergent locations can be compared, the measurements and the methods of
taking them have been standardized, although there is still some
disagreement about which of the measurements are most important. The
data form located at the end of this guide, usable on both baleen and
toothed whales, includes all the measurements routinely taken by
cetologists plus a few new ones the authors consider important. The form
and the directions for taking measurements are synthesized from those
currently in use by the Naval Undersea Center, San Diego; the Fisheries
Research Board of Canada; the University of Rhode Island; the University
of Florida; the U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C.; and the National
Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, Calif.
Data on stranded cetaceans should be collected by someone experienced in
handling and measuring cetaceans. The legal problems associated with
collection of a specimen are discussed in Appendix C. In addition to
having a permit or knowing how to obtain permission to collect the
specimen, persons active in cetacean research will usually have access
to laboratory facilities where in-depth studies, including postmortem
examinations and collection of tissues for specialized laboratory
examinations, can be conducted. Furthermore, specialized equipment, and
the number of steps required to do a complete job with the specimen,
make the procedure prohibitive for most noncetologists. Diligent
attempts should be made to contact one of the institutions listed in
Appendix E. If no one is available and no permit or approval is
obtainable, you are limited to photographing, sketching, and measuring
the specimen without removing the carcass or any part of the carcass
from the beach.
Any person taking data on stranded cetaceans should follow the
instructions itemized below, being careful to take measurements in the
manner prescribed and to record data in as much detail as possible.
1. Specimens should be preserved in 10% neutral Formalin, except for the
stomach contents, which should be kept in 70% ethyl or 40% isopropyl
alcohol, or be frozen. Commercial rubbing alcohol will suffice. As a
minimum, the head, flippers, and reproductive tract should be preserved.
If no other method of handling the specimen is available, and only as a
last resort, it may be buried in the sand well above the high tide line
and carefully marked so it can later be recovered. Burying usually
results in the loss of some vital parts.
2. The carcass should be examined for external parasites particularly in
such areas as the blowhole(s), the eyes, any wounds on the trailing
edges of the dorsal fin, flippers, and flukes. Occasionally barnacles
will be found on teeth or baleen plates. Like the stomach contents,
parasites should be preserved in alcohol.
3. Photographs and sketches are a valuable part of data
collection--views of the animal(s) from as many angles as possible, and
detailed shots of such features as baleen plates, mouth and teeth,
ventral grooves, flippers, flukes, and unusual scars or coloration
should be included. Including a ruler for size reference may be helpful.
4. Although scientific data are usually expressed in metric units,
measurements should be taken in whatever units are readily available.
All measurements should be taken in a straight line, as shown in the
diagram, unless otherwise noted. Measurements which refer to the rostrum
are taken from the tip of the upper jaw. The external auditory meatus
(ear) is a small inconspicuous opening located just below and behind the
eye. To locate the ear the observer must sometimes scrape away some of
the skin to expose the unpigmented ear canal beneath it.
5. Throat grooves are short grooves found on the throat of beaked
whales, sperm whales, and dwarf sperm whales. Ventral grooves are long
grooves found only on balaenopterine whales. Ventral grooves should be
counted between the flippers.
It is difficult to overstress the importance of data from stranded
cetaceans. For some species, the only data available have come from
stranded individuals. By carefully gleaning from each specimen all the
data that can be collected, you will make a valuable addition to the
body of knowledge on these elusive animals.
[Illustration: Appendix Figure D1.--Locations and details of important
measurements.]
APPENDIX E
LIST OF INSTITUTIONS TO CONTACT REGARDING STRANDED CETACEANS
The following list includes many of the institutions in the area covered
by this guide, which are likely to respond to calls about stranded
cetaceans. The institutions on the mainland are listed roughly in order
from north to south, following the contour of the coast. Several island
institutions and organizations are also listed.
These institutions are the ones that come to mind as having taken an
active interest in cetacean strandings in the recent past. In addition
to these, almost any university biology or zoology department, State or
Federal conservation agency or marine laboratory, or local natural
history museum or society can recommend an interested biologist if no
staff member is interested. Such organizations are widely distributed on
or near the coasts and are usually adequately listed in local telephone
directories.
It should be obvious that organizations such as oceanaria are the most
likely ones to be interested in live animals on an emergency basis. Even
so, these organizations often cooperate with biologists with whom they
are familiar and so will pick up dead animals for them as well.
Conversely, museums and the like are most interested in the dead animals
as they have no facilities for handling live ones. Nevertheless, they
often cooperate with institutions equipped to handle live animals and
will usually help in making arrangements for picking up the live ones.
Therefore, rather than the finder's making a decision as to whether or
not an institution should be called because the animal is alive or dead,
we would urge that the nearest organization in the following list be
contacted under any circumstances.
Space is provided at the end of the list for additions of contacts
inadvertently overlooked in compiling this list, or of institutions
which come into being after its publication.
CANADA
Newfoundland
Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's.
Nova Scotia
Bedford Institute, Dartmouth.
Departments of Biology, Psychology and/or Physiology, Dalhousie
University, Halifax.
Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax.
Quebec
Arctic Unit, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Ste. Anne de Bellevue.
Ontario
Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph.
UNITED STATES
Maine
see Massachusetts.
New Hampshire
see Massachusetts.
Massachusetts
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole.
New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston.
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge.
Rhode Island
Narragansett Marine Laboratory, University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
Connecticut
Mystic Marine Life Aquarium, Mystic.
New York