Photo Identification of Marine Mammals MARE 390 Dr. Turner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dorsal Ratio

Photo Analysis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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