Whales and Whalewatching on the Northeast Coast

Tomorrow morning, we go in search of . . .

Whales!

Where Did They Come From?

Evolution of Whales1. Diacodexis-primitive terrestrial hooved animal

2. Pakicetus-terrestrial cetacean

3. Ambulocetus-amphibious cetacean

4. Dorudon-fully aquatic early cetacean; note elbow and hindlimbs

5. Balaena-recent whale

Whale Family Tree

Anatomy

. . . everything is Whale-sized!

Dorsal Fin

Flukes

Pectoral Fin/FlipperVentral Grooves

Baleen Eye

Blowhole/nostril

Caudal peduncle

How Whales Feed

Finding Food by Echolocation

Scrimshaw

Filter Feeding With Baleen

Filter Feeding

Diatoms Copepods

Even Fish and Squid

Sand Lance

Bubble feeding

Longevity: How Long Does A Whale Live?

16 Year Old Harbor Porpoise Tooth

Whale Lice

Migration

Whaling

Subsistence Whaling

Modern Threats: Entanglement

Overfishing

Military Applications

Baleen Whales

Blue Whales

Humpbacks

Minke

Fin Whales

Toothed Whales

Orca

Atlantic White-sided Dolphins

How to tell them apart . . . clues for identification

• Dorsal fin shape

• Fluke shape

• Blow pattern

Dorsal Fins

Flukes

Humpback

Right

Blows

Photoidentification

Humback Flukes

Let’s Go Whaling…2003 Style!

Stellwagon Bank

A Footprint!

Behaviors

Flipper Slapping

Fish & Other Marine Life

Sea Birds

“Uh-oh. Howard. Across the street—whalewatchers.”

Repeat after me . . .

• Calm seas . . .

• No rain . . .

• Lots of whales!