MINKE WHALE Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Dark upper side and pale underside

Long streamlined body, 7-10m long

Relatively large falcate fin, at the back of body

White bands on flippers

Blowhole and fin visible simultaneously

Low, indistinct blow

Sharply pointed snout breaks surface first and the body contin-ues in a strong arching roll

HUMPBACK WHALE Megaptera novaeangliae Black or dark gray upper side

Large, stocky body, between 11.5-15m in length

Low, stubby fin with hump, at the back of the body

Long white flippers

Knobs on head and lower jaw

Single bushy blow

They may breach, lobtail and flipper slap

Flukes with irregular, wavy edge are raised before a deep dive

BLOW—Cloud of moisture-laden air exhaled by cetaceans (also know as a “spout”); may be used to describe the act of breathing.

BLOWHOLE—Nostril(s) on the top of the head.

BREACHING—Act of leaping completely out of the water (or almost completely) and landing back with a splash.

CETACEAN—Marine mammal belonging to the order Cetacea, which

includes all whales, dolphins and porpoises.

FALCATE—Sickle-shaped and curved backwards.

FIN—Raised structure on the back of most cetaceans. FLIPPER—Paddle-shaped front limb of a cetacean (sometimes known as

“pectoral fin”).

FLIPPER-SLAPPING—Raising a flipper out of the water and slapping it on the surface.

FLUKES—Horizontally flattened tail of cetaceans.

LOBTAILING—Forceful slapping of the flukes against the water while most of the animal lies just under the surface. Also known as “tail-slapping”.

SNOUT—Forward-projecting jaws of a cetacean (also know as “beak”). SPYHOPPING—Raising the head vertically out of the water, then sinking

below the surface without much splashing.

WHALE—General name applied to any large cetacean and a specific name applied to certain smaller ones.

LONG-TAILED PILOT WHALE Globicephala melas

Jet black or dark gray colour

Stocky but elongated body, 3.8-6m long

Fin sweep backwards and are set forward on body

Exceptionally long flippers

Rounded, bulbous forehead

Strong blow, more than 1m high, is sometimes visible

Frequently lobtails and spyhops

Prefers deep water and most often seen in large pods

ORCA (KILLER WHALE) Orcinus orca

Distinct black and white colouration

Robust, heavy body, up to 10m long

Very tall, upright fin positioned centrally on the body

Large, paddle-shaped flippers

Conspicuous, elliptical white patch behind each eye

Blow often visible in cool air, it is low and bushy

Acrobatic and active at the surface

Lives in mixed family groups

GLOSSARY

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© PGHEvans/Sea Watch Foundation © CSwann/Sea Watch Foundation

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BEAK—Forward-projecting jaws of a cetacean (also know as “snout”). BOW-RIDING—Riding on the pressure wave in front of a ship or large

whale.

BREACHING—Act of leaping completely out of the water (or almost completely) and landing back with a splash.

CAPE—Darker region on the back of many cetaceans around the dorsal fin

CETACEAN—Marine mammal belonging to the order Cetacea, which includes all whales, dolphins and porpoises.

DOLPHIN—Relatively small cetacean in any of several different families, with conical-shaped teeth and (usually) a falcate dorsal fin; as a general

term, may be used interchangeably with “porpoise”.

DORSAL—Towards the upper side. FALCATE—Sickle-shaped and curved backwards.

FIN—Raised structure on the back of most cetaceans.

FLUKES—Horizontally flattened tail of cetaceans.

LOBTAILING—Forceful slapping of the flukes against the water while

most of the animal lies just under the surface. Also known as “tail-slapping”. PORPOISE—Small cetacean in the family Phocoenidae, with an indistinct

beak or no beak, a stocky body, and spade-shaped teeth; most have a

triangular dorsal fin; as a general term, may be used interchangeably with “dolphin”.

TAIL STOCK—Region from just behind the dorsal fin to the flukes

WAKE-RIDING—Swimming in the frothy wave of a boat or ship.

GLOSSARY

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN Tursiops truncatus

Subdued gray colouring with paler underside

Roust head and body, can reach 4m in length

Prominent, falcate fin in the centre of the body

Distinct beak with a sharp crease and a rounded forehead

Dark dorsal cape

Highly active at the surface: frequently lobtails, bow-rides, wake-rides, and breaches

Inshore it is usually seen in small groups of up to 10 individuals

RISSO’S DOLPHIN Grampus griseus

Young are gray but they turn white with age

Robust body, often extensively scarred, up to 4m long

Prominent dorsal fin, up to 50cm high in centre of body

Indistinct beak with slightly bulging forehead

Dark flippers, fin and flukes

Young animals are known to breach; older animals tend to do a half-breach, then slap the side of their head onto the surface

Group size is normally between 3 to 50 individuals

© Fugarte/Sea Watch Foundation © PGHEvans/Sea Watch Foundation

WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN Lagenorhynchus albirostris

White, gray and black body

Very robust body, can reach 2.8m in length

Tall, falcate dorsal fin with broad base positioned centrally

White, brown or gray, short, thick beak

Pale area on tail stock white stripe on each side and dark flip-per, fin, and flukes

Fast, powerful swimmer, may bow-ride and are sometimes acrobatic; breaching and falling onto its side of back

HARBOUR PORPOISE Phocoena phocoena

Nondescript colouring

Small size (up to 2m long) and robust body

Low triangular fin placed slightly behind the centre of the body

No forehead or distinct beak

Slow, forward rolling motion, as if dorsal fin is revolving

Acrobatics are uncommon and are mostly uninterested in boats

Usually alone or in small groups of up 5 individuals

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