Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide

289 Pages·2015·56.04 MB·English

by  Annalisa Berta

EDITED BY ANNALISA BERTA
W H A LES,
DOLPHINS &
POR POISES
A NATURA L HISTORY AND SPE CIES GU I DE
WHALES, DOLPHINS & PORPOISES

EDITED BY ANNALISA BERTA
WHALES,
DOLPHINS &
PORPOISES
A NATURAL HISTORY AND SPECIES GUIDE
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
Chicago
Annalisa Berta has been Professor of Biology at San Diego State University, California, for This book was conceived,
more than 30 years specializing in the anatomy and evolutionary biology of marine designed, and produced by
mammals. Past President of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and co-Senior Editor Ivy Press
of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Berta has authored and co-authored numerous 210 High Street, Lewes
scientific articles and several books. East Sussex BN7 2NS
United Kingdom
www.ivypress.co.uk
The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London
© 2015 by Ivy Press Limited
All rights reserved. Published 2015.
Printed in China
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN-13: 978-0-226-18319-0 (cloth)
ISBN-13: 978-0-226-18322-0 (e-book)
DOI: 10.7208/chicago/978-0226183220.001.0001
Portions of this work were written and prepared by officers and/or employees of the U.S. Government
as part of their official duties and are not copyrightable.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Berta, Annalisa, author. Publisher SUSAN KELLY
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises : a natural history and species guide / Annalisa Berta.
Creative Director MICHAEL WHITEHEAD
pages cm
Editorial Director TOM KITCH
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-226-18319-0 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-226-18322-0 (ebook) Senior Project Editor CAROLINE EARLE
1. Whales—Anatomy. 2. Dolphins—Anatomy. 3. Porpoises—Anatomy. 4. Whales— Commissioning Editor KATE SHANAHAN
Behavior. 5. Dolphins—Behavior. 6. Porpoises—Behavior. I. Title.
Design J C LANAWAY
QL737.C4B6515 2015
599.5—dc23
2015008715
∞ This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).
Color origination by Ivy Press Reprographics
JACKET AND LITHOCASE IMAGES
Nature Picture Library/Martin Camm (WAC): Andrews’ beaked whale, Arnoux’s beaked whale,
Atlantic humpback dolphin, beluga, blue whale, Ganges River dolphin, gray whale, Irrawaddy dolphin,
narwhal, pantropical spotted dolphin, Peale’s dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, southern
bottlenose whale, southern right whale, spectacled porpoise, sperm whale, striped dolphin.
Nature Picture Library/Rebecca Robinson: Australian snubfin dolphin, Guiana dolphin.
Sandra Pond: Commerson’s dolphin, Indo-Pacific finless porpoise.
CONTENTS
Introduction 6 The Species Directory 62 Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin 130
How to Use the Species Directory 64 White-Beaked Dolphin 132
The Biology 8 Peale’s Dolphin 134
Phylogeny & Evolution 10 Right Whales 66 Hourglass Dolphin 136
Anatomy & Physiology 16 Southern Right Whale 68 Pacific White-Sided Dolphin 138
Behavior 20 North Atlantic Right Whale 70 Dusky Dolphin 140
Food & Foraging 26 North Pacific Right Whale 74 Northern Right Whale Dolphin 142 Narwhal & Beluga 194 River Dolphins 250
Life History 32 Bowhead Whale 76 Southern Right Whale Dolphin 144 Narwhal 196 Baiji 252
Range 40 Pygmy Right Whale 78 Irrawaddy Dolphin 146 Beluga 200 Franciscana 254
Habitat 42 Australian Snubfin Dolphin 148 Amazon River Dolphin 256
Conservation & Management 44 Rorqual Whales & Gray Whale 80 Killer Whale 150 Beaked Whales 204 Ganges River Dolphin 258
Gray Whale 82 Melon-Headed Whale 152 Arnoux’s Beaked Whale 206
Identification Tools & Maps 46 Common Minke Whale 86 False Killer Whale 154 Baird’s Beaked Whale 208 Porpoises 260
Identification Keys 48 Antarctic Minke Whale 88 Tucuxi 156 Northern Bottlenose Whale 210 Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise 262
Surface Behaviors 56 Sei Whale 90 Guiana Dolphin 158 Southern Bottlenose Whale 212 Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise 264
How & Where To Watch 60 Bryde’s Whale 92 Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin 160 Longman’s Beaked Whale 214 Spectacled Porpoise 266
Blue Whale 94 Indian Humpback Dolphin 162 Sowerby’s Beaked Whale 216 Harbor Porpoise 268
Omura’s Whale 98 Australian Humpback Dolphin 164 Andrews’ Beaked Whale 218 Vaquita 270
Fin Whale 100 Atlantic Humpback Dolphin 166 Hubbs’ Beaked Whale 220 Burmeister’s Porpoise 272
Humpback Whale 102 Pantropical Spotted Dolphin 168 Blainville’s Beaked Whale 222 Dall’s Porpoise 274
Clymene Dolphin 170 Gervais’ Beaked Whale 224
Oceanic Dolphins 106 Striped Dolphin 172 Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale 226 Appendices
Commerson’s Dolphin 108 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 174 Gray’s Beaked Whale 228 Classification of Cetaceans 277
Chilean Dolphin 110 Spinner Dolphin 176 Hector’s Beaked Whale 230 Glossary 278
Heaviside’s Dolphin 112 Rough-Toothed Dolphin 178 Deraniyagala’s Beaked Whale 232 Resources 282
Hector’s Dolphin 114 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin 180 Strap-Toothed Whale 234 Notes on Contributors 283
Long-Beaked Common Dolphin 116 Common Bottlenose Dolphin 182 True’s Beaked Whale 236 Index 286
Short-Beaked Common Dolphin 118 Perrin’s Beaked Whale 238
Pygmy Killer Whale 120 Sperm Whales 184 Pygmy Beaked Whale 240 Acknowledgments 288
Short-Finned Pilot Whale 122 Sperm Whale 186 Stejneger’s Beaked Whale 242
Long-Finned Pilot Whale 124 Pygmy Sperm Whale 190 Spade-Toothed Beaked Whale 244
Risso’s Dolphin 126 Dwarf Sperm Whale 192 Shepherd’s Beaked Whale 246
Fraser’s Dolphin 128 Cuvier’s Beaked Whale 248
6 INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises, also known as cetaceans, include 90 currently recognized living species. Although some
cetacean species are on the brink of extinction, there are also exciting discoveries of new species. This guide is intended
to introduce the reader to the identification and biology of these magnificent and charismatic mammals of the sea.
Part One of this guide includes information about cetacean biology. The Phylogeny & Evolution section highlights where
whales originated and how they evolved and diversified from the tropics to polar waters. The Anatomy & Physiology section
includes key features of the head, body, and appendages (fins, flippers, and flukes) that enable a fully aquatic life—
emphasizing a few novel adaptations, such as high-frequency sound production and reception in some whales. These
adaptations provide a historical framework for understanding how these mammals make a living today and guide our efforts
in their conservation. The Behavior section highlights the social organization of cetaceans ranging from solitary species to
Gregariousness
the highly complex societies of some toothed whales. Cetaceans have evolved to feed on a diverse prey. Whales feed on Groups of common bottlenose
dolphins often travel together
aggregations of zooplankton averaging less than an inch (1-2 mm) in length to large squid 10 ft (3 m) or more in length. exhibiting playful behavior.
INTRODUCTION 7
The section on Food & Foraging identifies how whales locate
and catch their prey using techniques that range from the
pursuit of individual fish to bulk feeding of large aggregations
of zooplankton. The Life History section highlights the growth,
reproduction, and survival of cetaceans including techniques
for determining the age of whales. The reproductive biology of
cetaceans reveals that many species do not reproduce annually,
which is a key factor guiding our conservation efforts. The
Range & Habitat sections reveal how new techniques such
as digital devices and satellite telemetry track the location,
movement patterns, and ranges of cetaceans. The Conservation
& Management section discusses the status of some
endangered species, major threats, and notable conservation
actions designed to protect cetacean species.
Part Two of this guide includes Identification Tools & Maps,
which provides keys to the identification of whales, dolphins,
and porpoises using distinctive body features—such as size,
color, and markings, and fluke and flipper shapes. There are
many ways to watch cetaceans—from the air, on land, and at sea. Many display distinctive surface behaviors described in Breaching
This image shows a humpback whale
this section such as leaping out of the water, which aids in their identification. Another section describes whale watching,
displaying a typical “breaching” behavior in
which brings people in close contact with whales, covering the gear involved as well as some top viewing locations around which whales, dolphins, and some porpoises
leap out of the water. There are a number
the world. Checklists provide species assemblages encountered in different regions of the world. of possible explanations for this behavior
including signaling, dominance, or warning
other whales of danger.
The largest section of this guide, Part Three, is the Species Directory (see pages 62–275). This is followed by several
appendices including a classification of cetaceans list, glossary of commonly used terms, and an index. We hope that you
are inspired to find, recognize, watch, and appreciate whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Their future and ultimately our own
depends on our abilities and efforts to conserve and protect the world’s oceans and its inhabitants.

THE BIOLOGY