1. Photo Identification
of Marine Mammals
MARE 390
Dr. Turner

2. Photo ID
Marked animals prereq. of behavioral studies in 1950’s and 60’s
Identification of wild-animals via natural marks
Useful in long-term studies
Large & long-lived vertebrates

3. Photo ID in Marine Mammals
First record in marine mammals
Orca from Australia – late 1800’s
Whalers & Fishermen documented 27
Many early records were anomalously white animals
Or severely damaged fins

4. Photo ID in Marine Mammals
Studies using subtle natural markings in fins & flukes began in early 1970’s
Killer whales, Humpbacked Dolphins, Sousa,
Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins
Humpback whales & Right whales

5. Photo ID in Marine Mammals
Real benefit of technique are long-term studies
can identify relationships: social & sexual
Photogrammetry – measuring the size and spacing of animals

6. Photo ID Methods Distinctive features – trailing edge of dorsal fin
- works well in some species – Tursiops
> 50% identifiable
- others (Spinner, Dusky, Pilot, Porpoises) < 20%
Longevity and Changeability of marks critical

7. Photo ID Methods Longevity and Changeability of marks critical
Wounds and Scars
Wounds heal rather quickly
Scars last for life
Cookie-cutter shark bites
Intra-specific agression

8. Photo ID Methods Viewing animals: From Shore non-invasive, inexpensive
information on individuals limited
Camera or Theodolite tracking
From Airplanes
Somewhat invasive & expensive

9. Photo ID Methods Viewing animals: From Boats
Most practical, most invasive
Other formats
Underwater Cameras
Video Cameras

10. Photo Analysis Negatives, prints, digital images
Tracings, eye, microscope
Examine shape, markings, leading/trailing edge

11. Photo Analysis Stored with similar fins/flukes in folders
1, 2, 3 notches
Damaged fins
Black, white, black & white flukes

12. Dorsal Ratio

13. Photo Analysis

14. Photo Analysis Beluga whale – scars on body Killer whale –
dorsal fin shape
Saddle pigmentation

15. Photo Analysis Pilot whale – nicks, scratches, scars, pigments on body
and back
Humpbacked dolphin –
scars on back, flank,
dorsal fin

16. Photo Analysis Atlantic white sided dolphin – scars and nicks,
on dorsal fins; unusual
pigment patterns
Dusky dolphin –
scars and nicks, on
Dorsal fins; unusual

17. Photo Analysis Pacific white sided dolphin – scars and nicks,
on dorsal fins;
white individuals
Bottlenose dolphin –
nicks, scars and pigment
spots on dorsal fin

18. Photo Analysis Risso’s dolphin – pigment patterns, nicks on dorsal
fin, scars on back
Spinner dolphin – scars
and marks on dorsal fin

19. Photo Analysis Atlantic spotted dolphin – fin and fluke marks;
body spot patterns
Pan tropical spotted
dolphin – fin and fluke
marks; body spot patterns

20. Photo Analysis Heaviside’s dolphin – white animals, dorsal fin marks
Hector’s dolphin –
dorsal fin nicks

21. Photo Analysis Harbor porpoise – dorsal fin scars and
nicks, and pigment areas
Dall’s porpoise –
dorsal fin pigmentation,
color anomalies, dorsal
fin deformities

22. Photo Analysis Baiji – dorsal fin scars and nicks, and pigment areas
Blainsville’s beaked whale – dorsal fin notches, white oval scars from cookie-cutter sharks, linear scars from intraspecific interactions

23. Photo Analysis Right whale – pattern of callosities
Bowhead whale – pigment patterns

24. Photo Analysis
Sperm whale – dorsal fin scars and nicks, and pigment areas
Blue whale – dorsal fin scars and nicks, cookie-cutter shark scars

25. Photo Analysis
Humpback whale – dorsal fin scars and nicks, cookie-cutter shark scars