Despite deficiencies in the first effort and the inherent difficulties of positively identifying many of the cetacean species at sea, the results obtained from the programs have been encouraging. Many seafarers who had previously looked with disinterest or ignorance on the animals they encountered became good critical observers and found pleasure in the contribution they were making. The potential for the expansion of such observer programs is enormous.
Because of these initial successes and the large number of requests for packets from persons working at sea off the Atlantic coast of North America, this guide was planned. Many of the errors and deficiencies of the Pacific Guide have been corrected, and the discussions of the ranges of many of the species have been expanded with considerations of the major oceanographic factors affecting their distribution and movements. While the present volume, like the Pacific Guide, is intended as an aid to the identification of living animals at sea, new materials have been provided to aid in the identification and reporting of stranded specimens, a major source of data and study material for museums. This new dimension is expected to assist the U.S. National Museum, various regional museums, and other researchers actively collecting cetacean materials for display and study in the implementation of their stranded animal salvage programs. Through a cooperative effort of this kind, the best possible use can be made of all materials that become available.
As a part of continuing research, this guide will be revised whenever possible. Suggestions for its improvement will at all times be welcome.
Funds for the preparation of this guide were provided by a grant to Stephen Leatherwood from the Platforms of Opportunity Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tiburon, Calif., Paul Sund, Coordinator.
Introduction 1 Classification of cetaceans 1 Dolphin or porpoise 5 Organization of the guide 5 How to use the guide 7 To identify animals at sea 7 To identify stranded animals 7 To record and report information 7 Directory to species accounts: Large whales: With a dorsal fin 10 Without dorsal fin 13 Medium-sized whales: With a dorsal fin 14 Without dorsal fin 15 Small whales, dolphins, and porpoises with a dorsal fin 16 Species accounts: Large whales with a dorsal fin: Blue whale 19 Fin whale 26 Sei whale 32 Bryde's whale 37 Humpback whale 40 Large whales without dorsal fin: Bowhead whale 49 Right whale 52 Sperm whale 57 Medium-sized whales with a dorsal fin: Minke whale 63 Northern bottlenosed whale 67 Goosebeaked whale 70 Other beaked whales 74 True's beaked whale 77 Antillean beaked whale 78 Dense-beaked whale 80 North Sea beaked whale 82 Killer whale 84 False killer whale 88 Atlantic pilot whale 91 Short-finned pilot whale 94 Grampus 96 Medium-sized whales without dorsal fin: Beluga 99 Narwhal 102 Small whales, dolphins, and porpoises with a dorsal fin: Atlantic spotted dolphin 104 Bridled dolphin 108 Spinner dolphin 110 Striped dolphin 113 Saddleback dolphin 116 Fraser's dolphin 120 Atlantic white-sided dolphin 123 White-beaked dolphin 126 Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin 128 Guiana dolphin 132 Rough-toothed dolphin 135 Pygmy killer whale 138 Many-toothed blackfish 142 Pygmy sperm whale 144 Dwarf sperm whale 148 Harbor porpoise 150 Acknowledgments 152 Selected bibliography 152