MEDIUM-SIZED WHALES 



(13-32 feet [4-10 m] maximum overall length) 



With a Dorsal Fin 



There are 11 species of medium-sized whales with a dorsal 

 fin known from the western North Atlantic. These species, 

 taking many diverse forms, range in maximum adult size 

 from about 13 feet (4.0 m) (grampus) to about 33 feet (10.1 m) 

 (the minke whale). This group includes such widely 

 distributed and frequently encountered species as the pilot 

 whales, false killer whales, and minke whales, and such 

 rarely encountered and poorly known species as the various 

 "beaked whales" (Mesoplodon spp. and the goosebeaked 

 whale). 



Aside from their common inclusion within the stated size 

 range and the presence of a dorsal fin in all species (which 

 ranges from only a small nubbin in some of the beaked whales 

 to a substantial 5- to 6-foot [1.5- to 1.8-m] sail on adult male 

 killer whales), these species have no diagnostic field 

 characteristics in common. Therefore, each is discussed in 

 detail and is placed in the text in near proximity to those 

 species with which it is likely to be confused in the field. 



Body to 30 feet (9.1 m), or more, long. 



Body black or dark gray; area of gray shading on each side just in 



front of and below dorsal fin. 

 Flippers have transverse white band. 

 Head very sharply V-shaped viewed from above. 

 Dorsal fin falcate and distinct; usually appears simultaneous 



with blow. 

 Blow often low and indistinct. 



Distribution polar, temperate, and tropical: frequently coastal. 

 Often curious about boats. 

 Flukes not raised on dive. 



Body to 32 feet (9.8 m) long. 



Body of young uniformly chocolate brown; body of adults brown 



with cream or yellow blotches. 

 Head bulbous in adults and white in larger animals; has distinct 



beak. 

 Dorsal fin falcate and distinct, in last one-third of back. 

 Distribution north temperate and Arctic-offshore. 

 Often curious about boats. 

 Flukes large, rarely notched; occasionally raised on long dive. 



Body to at least 23 feet (7 m) long. 



Body from dark gray or brown to rust or fawn and splotched with 



white; eyes dark. 

 Head of large males white. 

 Back frequently scarred with numerous scratches, presumably 



tooth marks. 

 Dorsal fin falcate and distinct, in last one-third of back. 

 Distribution primarily tropical; extends to temperate. 

 Flukes light beneath, sometimes shallowly notched; often raised on 



dive. 



Body to 16-22 feet (4.9-6.7 m) long. 

 Body color black to dark gray. 

 Back frequently scarred. 

 Dorsal fin position varies with species. 

 Distribution varies with species. 

 Flukes not usually distinctly notched. 



Body to at least 30 feet (9.1 m) long. 



Body black with sharply demarcated white belly and oval white 



patch above and behind eye; gray saddle behind dorsal fin. 

 Body chunky. 



Dorsal fin in males can be very tall, sometimes 6 feet (1.8 m). 

 Dorsal fin in females and immature animals up to 3 feet (0.9 m), 



distinctly falcate. 



Minke whale 



Balaenoptera acutorostrata 

 p. 63 



Northern bottlenosed whale 



Hyperoodon ampuUatus 

 p. 67 



Goosebeaked whale 



Ziphius cavirostris 

 p. 70 



All other western North Atlantic 

 beaked whales 



Mesoplodon spp. 

 p. 74 



Killer whale 



Orcinus area 

 p. 84 



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