Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic - novelonlinefull.com
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_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
