Figure 7. — The open mouth of an Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin from the 

 northeastern Gulf of Mexico. All toothed whales have teeth, which are 

 used primarily for grasping rather than lor chewing. The number varies 

 from 2 to over 250. though they are buried beneath the gums in females 

 and immature animals of several species, take peculiar form in one 

 (narwhal), andareextensively worn in others. (PAoto 6vi). K. CaldwelL) 



HOW TO USE THE GUHJE 



To Identify Animals at Sea 



The three major sections of the guide (i.e., large, medium, 

 and small whales) are preceded by a directory to species 

 accounts, which is a summary of the most obvious 

 characteristics of each species and in which summary 

 statements about each characteristic are arranged in parallel 

 order. To use the guide to identify living animals observed at 

 sea, a person or persons should: 



1. First estimate the animal's size and determine whether 

 or not it has a dorsal fin. 



2. Note also any distinctive features of body shape and 

 coloration and observe its general behavior, including 

 swimming, blowing, and diving characteristics. It should be 

 noted that coloration may vary somewhat at sea, depending 

 on light conditions and water clarity. For example, animals 

 which appear dark gray or black at the surface or when dead 

 may appear brown in good light or when submerged. Making 

 a brief sketch at this point may aid in identifying the animal or 

 in later recalling its distinctive features. 



3. Using the directory, locate the section to which the 

 animal probably belongs. 



4. Then, for more detailed information, consult the section 

 indicated. There you will find a more complete discussion of 

 the animal's range, size, and distinctive characteristics. In 

 addition, you will find a brief discussion distinguishing it from 

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



Figure 6. — Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin mother and calf from north- 

 eastern Florida. Note the single open blowhole, a characteristic that 

 marks these animals as toothed whales. {Photo c<mrte$y of Marmeland 

 of Florida.) 



This guide will probably work best if, in advance of 

 attempting to use the key in the field, the reader will 

 familiarize himself with the general outline, with characters 

 or behaviors to note, and with the locations of the various 

 species accounts. It will also help if he schools himself to ask a 

 series of questions about the animal(s) he sees at the time of 

 the encounter rather than depending on his recall at a later 

 time (see p. 160). As we have emphasized several times in 

 this guide, positive identification of cetaceans at sea can 

 only occasionally be made on the basis of a single character- 

 istic. Therefore, the greater the amount of pertinent evi- 

 dence an observer obtains, the greater the likelihood he can 

 make a reliable identification. 



To Identify Stranded Animals 



Stranded animals can best be identified by referring to 

 Appendix C and its associated tables, making a preliminary 

 determination and then consulting the species accounts in the 

 main body of the book for verification of the identification. As 

 noted in that appendix, if the animal is recently stranded, 

 identification can be made using any of the externally visible 

 characteristics described for the living species at sea. But 

 even if the animal is in an advanced stage of decomposition, it 

 can usually be identified by referring to the key and to the 

 numbers and descriptions of baleen plates, for all baleen 

 whales, and the numbers and relative lengths of ventral 

 grooves, for all balaenopterine whales (Table 1), or to the 

 tables on the numbers and descriptions of teeth, for toothed 

 whales (Table 2). 



To Record and Report Information 



As discussed in the preface, though learning to identify 

 the whales, dolphins, and porpoises one sees may be exciting 

 in itself, many persons may want to participate in the 

 accumulation of data on these interesting animals by 

 routinely reporting their observations to scientists who are 

 actively studying them and who can make immediate use of 

 the information. The following may help these persons: 



Suggestions for making and recording observations of 

 cetaceans at sea and sample data forms are included in 

 Appendix C. Similar suggestions for taking and recording 

 data on stranded cetaceans are included in Appendix D. For 

 both types of data, blank data forms located after the 

 appendices may be photocopied in bulk for use in the field. 



Completed data forms and all associated information for 

 sightings at sea should be forwarded to the Platforms of 

 Opportunity Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, 

 Tiburon, CA 94920, or to one of the authors of this guide. 

 From there, they will be made available to scientists active- 

 ly studying the cetaceans of a given species or geographical 

 area. 



Completed data forms and all associated information for 

 observations of stranded cetaceans should be forwarded to 

 the Division of Mammals, U.S. National Museum, 

 Washington, DC 20560, to one of the authors of this guide, 

 or to one of the regional laboratories listed in Appendix E. 

 These persons have, in turn, been encouraged to keep a free 

 flow of information among them. 



