Distributed from tropics to Arctic; most common in colder waters. 

 Often seen in shallow bays and rivers and near shore. 

 Flukes may be raised on dive. 



Body to at least 18 feet (5.5 m) long. 



Body black (faint gray blaze on belly between flippers). 



Body slender. 



Head small, tapering. 



Large prominent teeth frequently visible at sea. 



Flippers have distinct hump on leading edge. 



Dorsal fin to 14 inches (35.6 cm), falcate, and from rounded to 



pointed on tip. 

 Distribution pelagic tropical to warm temperate seas. 

 Frequently ride bow waves. 



Body to at least 22 feet (6.7 m) long. 



Body black with light gray, anchor-shaped area on chest; gray 



saddle sometimes seen behind dorsal fin. 

 Head becoming more bulbous with age, somewhat squarish in 



adult males viewed from above. 

 Tail humped. 



Flippers long (to one-fifth of body length), sickle-shaped. 

 Dorsal fin broad-based, falcate to flaglike, in front half of back. 

 Distribution primarily north temperate— about Hatteras north. 

 Flukes not usually raised on dive. 



Body to at least 17.5 feet (5.3 m) long. 



Body black with indistinct light gray area on chest; saddle behind 



dorsal fin. 

 Head becoming more bulbous with age; square in large adult males 



viewed from above. 

 Flippers relatively short (to less than one-sixth of body length). 

 Dorsal fin broad-based, falcate to flaglike, in front half of back. 

 Distribution tropical and warm temperate; from about Hatteras 



south. 

 Flukes not usually raised on dive. 



Body to at least 13 feet (4.0 m) long. 



Body of newborn light gray; darkens with age. 



Body of adults light gray or white; scarred with numerous 



scratches. 

 Head blunted, not beaked. 

 Forehead has vertical crease in center. 

 Dorsal fin less than 15 inches (38.1 cm), rather erect and distinct, 



and dark even in light adults. 

 Distribution tropical to temperate. 

 Rarely ride bow wave. 



False killer whale 



Pseudorca crassidens 

 p. 88 



Atlantic pilot whale 



Globicephala melaena 

 p. 91 



Short-finned pilot whale 



Globicephala macrorhynchus 

 p. 94 



Grampus 



Grampus griseus 

 p. 96 



(13-16 feet [4-5 m] maximum overall length) 



Without a Dorsal Fin 



The only two species of medium-sized cetaceans in the 

 western North Atlantic which have no dorsal fin, the Beluga 

 or white whale and the Narwhal, share such limited common 



range, well outside the theater of normal boating traffic, that 

 they are generally infrequently encountered. 

 Both species are easily identifiable when seen. 



Body to 16 feet (4.9 m) long. 



Body of adults all white; young slate gray. 



Small row of bumps along back ridge near midpoint, sometimes 



dark brown. 

 Distribution usually near coast from Arctic waters to St. Lawrence 



Gulf and into Hudson Bay. 



Beluga 



Delphinaptems leucas 

 p. 99 



15 



