Cetaceans Giants of the Sea!
Cetaceans Mammals Aquatic Some of the largest animals in the world
Adapted to Life in the Ocean
Flippers, Fins & Flukes
Streamlined Common Dolphins Minke Whale
Blubber
Blowholes Courtesy: NOAA, Roletto (Gray)
Baleen Whales- Mysticeti
HumpbackMinke Baleen Whales
Baleen
Filter Feeders
Humpback Most common large whale in our area Black on dorsal side with long black and white flippers Arch back before diving & shows flukes prior to deep dive Length up to 60 feet STATUS: Endangered, using US Atlantic waters. 8,000-10,000 in N. Atlantic Photo: NOAA
Humpback Whale Photo By Graeme Cresswell Photo By Hugh Harrop Photo By Richard Broughton
Minke & Fin Whales Only whale w/ a white right jaw and baleen, and a dark left jaw and baleen
Right Whale Most endangered of the large whales Length feet Black on dorsal side with yellowish bumps on their head (callosities) In NJ spring and fall STATUS: Endangered, currently about 300 known in w. N. Atlantic waters. Although they have been protected from killing since the 1930’s, they have not “bounced back”.
Toothed Whales- Odontoceti
Toothed Whales Orca Sperm Whale Tooth
Echolocation
Sperm Whale Heads are boxy Heads are up to 1/3 rd of body length Blowhole on front left side of head Skin is dark and wrinkled STATUS: Endangered but fairly common offshore.
Pilot Whales Black with large dorsal fins Length feet Usually travel in pods (schools) Normally in NJ in the spring Longinned and Shortfinned Photo: nhm.org Photo: Corbis
Beaked Whales Four species in NJ (Blainville’s, Antillean, True’s and Goose) Most beaked whales have 2 teeth (females not visible) Long obvious beaks, small flippers, small dorsal fins set far back, and may have gill-like slits on their throats.
Smaller Cetaceans Dolphins & Porpoise
Harbor Porpoise
Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphin Usually seen in the summer 3-10 feet long Light gray on ventral side and darker gray on the rest of the body Often give birth in our waters
Risso’s Dolphin Only NJ dolphin without a beak
Photo by Doug Lefler