Socal Odontoceti (toothed whales) by Patti Schick Hornblower Cruises & Events

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1 Socal Odontoceti (toothed whales) by Patti Schick Hornblower Cruises & Events

2 Odontoceti vs. Mysteceti Odontoceti teeth single blowhole Mysteceti baleen double blowhole smaller size larger size (4+ ft. to 55+ ft.) (20 ft to 85+ ft.) males larger than females females larger than males Vocals: high frequency & echolocate Vocals: low frequency & no echolocation

3 Suborder Odontoceti (Toothed whales) Sperm whales Family Physeteridae: the sperm whale (pictured) Family Kogiidae: the pygmy and dwarf sperm whales Family Phocoenidae: the porpoises Family Monodontidae: the beluga (pictured) & narwhal Family Ziphiidae: the beaked whales Family Delphinidae: the oceanic dolphins River Dolphins Family Platanistidae: the Ganges & Indus river dolphins Family Iniidae: the Amazon river dolphin Family Pontoporiidae: the franciscana Family Lipotidae: the baiji (pictured)

4 Teeth!!!

5 Single blowhole

6 Echolocation nasal sacs melon fat-filled cavity auditory bulla

7 Sperm whale (Family Physeteridae) Physeter macrocephalus Size: males to 60 ft. (18.3 m) females to 36 ft. (11 m)

8 Sperm whale field ID Frank Balthis asymmetrical blowhole; angles to the left and forward large, rectangular head (1/3 body length) small, rounded dorsal fin & knuckles wrinkled skin behind head

9 Sperm Whale Behavior echolocation clicks up to db- loudest animal! social groups: stable female family groups (6-20+), bachelor schools (young males), solitary bulls

10 Sperm Whale Diving rests at surface between dives flukes before diving very long, deep dives: min., probably up to10,499 feet (3,200 meters) or ~ 2 miles! Frank Balthis

11 Sperm whale feeding diet: squid, squid and more squid and sometimes octopuses, rays, sharks, & bony fish teeth: in lower jaw only, fit into grooves in upper jaw

12 Porpoise vs dolphin Porpoise (Phocoenidae) spade-shaped teeth triangular dorsal fin no beak Dolphin (Delphinidae) cone-shaped teeth falcate dorsal fin (most) beak (most species)

13 Dolphin Family Delphinidae ( ocean dolphins ) cone-shaped teeth

14 Common dolphin (Delphinus spp.) Size: males to 7.5 ft. (2.3 m) females to 7 ft. (2.2 m) more rounded melon hourglass pattern (both) short-beaked (Delphinus delphis) long-beaked (Delphinus capensis) Size: slightly smaller males to 8.5 ft. (2.6 m) females to 7.4 ft. (2.2 m) long-beaked has longer beak, narrower head & less rounded melon.

15 Common dolphins often seen in large groups of 100s to 1,000s (megapods) highly acrobatic-porpoise, leaps often bowride feeding- small schooling fishes & squid (DSL at night)

16 Pacific white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus obliquidens ( lags ) Field ID: Size: bicolored dorsal fin almost no beak 1.7 to 2.5 m (5.6-8 ft.) light gray suspenders behavior: along back acrobatic, bowride large whitish patch on each side

17 Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus Field ID: dark gray dorsal; lighter ventral (counter-shaded) short, prominent beak Size: Pacific offshores the largest males: 8 to12.5 ft. ( m) females: 7.8 to 12 ft. ( m)

18 Bottlenose dolphin: ecotypes coastal: coastal and inshore waters smaller offshore: pelagic larger darker

19 Risso s dolphin Grampus griseus Size: to 12.5 ft. (3.8 m) weigh 882 to 1,102 lb. ( kg) light to dark gray with numerous whitish scars: rake marks, from prey squid, cookie cutter sharks, etc. indistinct beak blunt, squared off melon; vertical crease on front tall, slender dorsal fin

20 Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus Field ID: bulbous melon light gray saddle behind dorsal fin Size: males to 20 ft. (6.1 m) females to 16 ft. (4.9 m)

21 found in groups of 20 to 90 females and males; adult males move between groups spyhop & breach deep divers (squid): to >1,000 ft.;up to15 min. gestation: months; ~ 6 ft. long at birth. Nurse up to 2 years. pilot whale:behavior Cascadia Research

22 False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens NOAA Field ID: mostly dark gray/ black with some lighter areas ventrally between flippers & sides of head no beak, tapered head Size: males to 20 ft. (6.1 m) females to 16 ft. (4.9 m) Distribution: tropical/subtropical Socal- warm water events

23 Killer whale Orcinus orca Field ID: black and white male dorsal fin tall & triangular; females much shorter and falcate Size: largest dolphin males: 19 to 22 ft. ( m) females: 16 to 19 ft. ( m) largest recorded male: 32 ft. (9.8 m)

24 Killer whale: disruptive coloration

25 Killer whale: behavior

26 Killer whale: ecotypes resident transient offshore ETP Eastern North Pacific Residents: rounded dorsal fins, terminates in sharp corner (females) Transients: sharper fins, solid gray saddle patches, small groups Offshores: look like residents, dorsal fins more rounded, large groups?eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) tropical pelagic: tend to have faint saddle patches, often have stalked barnacles on dorsal fins

27 Killer whales: feeding diet differs, depends on ecotype residents: fishes (esp. salmon) offshores: sharks (blue & sleeper) and other fishes transients: marine mammals; whale killers ETPs:???? fishes, squid, marine mammals

28 Killer whales as whale killers Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute

29 What Can You Do? Choose sustainable seafood Educate yourself & share what you know