APPENDIX I 



Aids to Establishing a Sightings Network for the CINMS 



Cetaceans are not easy to identify at sea, especially as they are 

 tj'pically seen - a distant blow, a splash or a silhouette against the 

 horizon. Even when they are seen quite closely, many cetacean 

 species are subtly marked and similar to one or several other species; 

 so, even specialists must take care not to make quick judgements but 

 rather to be attentive throughout each encounter to details which can 

 confirm identity of the species involved. 



We encourage all participants m the CINMS sightings program 

 to undergo a period of training (viewing slide shows and participat- 

 ing in a series of identification quizzes), study in detail the available 

 information on how to identify CINMS cetaceans [found in this 

 report and such other publications as Leatherwood et al (1982), 

 Leatherwood and Reeves (igSj J and Hoyt (1984J], and develop good 

 habits for observing cetaceans and reporting on cetacean sightings. 

 This latter includes fa) logging each sighting with detail sufficient to 

 allow a reviewer to confirm the identifications and ' b ; photographing 

 animals whenever possible and including the photographs with the 

 sightings reports. 



As detailed field guides will not always be readily available to 

 would-be observers, we provide here a miniiJuide to the cetaceans of 

 the eastern North Pacific which can be photocopied and widely 

 distributed at low costs. In it we have highlighted species most likely 

 to be seen in or very near the CINMS. The miniguide is accom- 

 panied by sighting forms for (a) incidental observations ( Figures I-i, 

 and 1-2, i : b) daily logs tor replicate searches (Figure l-i) and (c) 

 sample data logging forms which the CINMS cetacean research 

 coordinator might elect to use and distribute to dedicated partici- 

 pants in the CINMS data network as they permit data on effort and 

 sightings to be recorded in detail and transferred easily to computer 

 I Figure I-4I. These forms are only suggestions. Each program has 

 specialized needs, so formats for reporting and handling data should 

 be specifically designed for the CINMS with long term plans and 

 budgets in mind. 



MiNiGuiDE TO Cetaceans of the Eastern North Pacific, with Special Reference to the CINMS 



We hope this quick reference guide will be useful in identift-ing 

 cetaceans encountered at sea in the eastern North Pacific. Before 

 using it, prospective users are encouraged to study materials con- 

 tained in more in-depth field guides, such as Leatherwood et al 

 (1982J, Leatherwood and Reeves (198; ) and Hoyt ( 1984) and to refer 

 to these books regularly to confirm tentative identifications made 

 using the miniguide. 



We have included all species of cetaceans known to occur in the 

 eastern North Pacific. But as some species are ordinarily restricted to 

 tropical (indicated by a "T" following the species name ) and others 

 to polar (indicated by a "P") waters we have highlighted the species 

 from the SCB and CINMS. Of this latter category we have distin- 

 guished between residents or common seasonal migrants (indicated 

 by an "A"j and contained within bold bo.xes and those other species 

 (indicated by a "B" ) which have been reported from the CINMS or 

 nearby waters but are not common there marked with an * ne.\t to the 

 species name. 



To use this miniguide: (i) first estimate the animal's size and 

 determine whether or not it has a dorsal fin i 2 ) note also any 

 distinctive features of body shape and coloration and observe its 

 general behavior, including swimming, blowing and diving charac- 

 teristics (;) make sketches of the animals appearance and note on 

 sketches the most distinctive visible features (4) photograph animals 



whenever possible (5) consult the miniguide sections to make a 

 tentative identification and (6) upon return to a library containing 

 detailed field guides confirm the tentative field identification. 



The guide will work best if in advance of attempting to use it the 

 reader will familiarize himself/herself with the species, by reference 

 to more detailed guides, and school himself/herself to ask a series of 

 questions about the animal(s) seen: (i) How large was it? (2) Did it 

 have a fin? If so, what was its size, shape and position on the animal's 

 back? f J ) Was the animal's blow visible; if so how tall did it appear? 

 What was its shape? How frequently did the animal blow? (4) What 

 was the animal's color and color pattern? (5) Did it have any highly 

 distinctive markings? (6) If it was a large or a medium-sized animal, 

 did it show its flukes when it began its dive? (7) If it was a medium- 

 sized or a small animal, did it approach, avoid or ignore the vessel? 

 Did it ride the bow wa\e? and ( 8 i What was its behavior? Did it 

 breach? Was such breach graceful, with a headfirst reentry, or 

 haracterized by a loud or splashing re-entry? 



One characteristic is rarely sufficient by itself and the greater 

 amount of information the observer can obtain and record, the 

 greater the likelihood he or some more qualified reviewer can make a 

 correct identification. 



The guide is presented in three sections - large whales, medium- 

 sized whales and small whales, dolphins and porpoises. 



^' 



LARGE WHALES (12-26 meters maximum length) 



With a Dorsal Fin 



There are six species of large whales with a dorsal fin in the eastern 

 North Pacific. Five of them belong to the same major baleen whale 

 group, the balaenopterid whales or rorquals, and the sixth is the largest 

 of the toothed whales, the sperm whale. 



All the rorquals have a series of ventral pleats, usually visible on 

 stranded specimens. The length and number of these pleats are 

 diagnostic for some species. In addition, all species have at least one 

 distinct (though often not prominent ) ridge along the head from just 



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