-WATCHING IN THE WEST INDIES

A Guide to Cetaceans and Sites of the Region

by Nathan Gricks, LL.B. CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction iii

Part I: An Identification Guide to and 1

Part II: A Site Guide for the Bahamas and Antilles 27

Annotated Bibliography 34

Appendix A: Record Card 36

Appendix B: Equipment for Use in Whale-Watching 37

Appendix C: First Aid for Stranded Cetaceans 38

G l o s s a r y 3 9

Front Cover: Atlantic Spotted Dolphins ( frontalis). Courtesy of William Rossiter. Back Cover: Tail-lobbing Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) Courtesy of William Rossiter. Foreword

The publication of this guide has been prompted by the lack of understanding of whales and dolphins in general and of those species occurring in the West Indies (Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles) in particular. Although it is intended more for the amateur naturalist than the scientist or cetologist, this pocket size guide for the region should provide easy reference for any seafarer making sightings of these marvellous creatures. The guide is divided into two parts. The 26 species included in Part I represent every likely whale and that an observer might come across in this geographic area. As a result, ( fluviatilis) and True's (Mesoplodon mirus) are not featured since though they may occur rarely, their distributions are centred to the south and the north, respectively, of the region covered. Further, no reliable recent records exist for the ( musculus) and northern {Eubalaena glacialis) in the West Indies. Key features to identification of each species are presented in both the physical description and behaviour sections. You can use the range section to help confirm your sighting. The status of each species is noted in accordance with the IUCN Red Data Book criteria. All the above details are an amalgam of the author's observations and source material from several researchers. Readers should turn to the Annotated Bibliography for further information. Part II covers areas of special interest for whale-watching, including Dominica's west coast to the Dominican Republic's north-east shore. It gives details of boat trips and land-based watching all over the region. Those wishing to get involved in looking for and reporting sightings might consider taking regular trips on sports fishing boats or even inter-island ferries, since the more watching hours passed the more the observer will discover. Cruise ship passengers often see dolphins during their stay aboard. In recording sightings of whales and dolphins, as accurate information as possible is required. A sightings record programme based at the Historical and Archaeological Society (HAS) in St. John's, Antigua has recently been initiated. It is for this reason that a record card has been inserted at Appendix A. This can be photocopied for multiple use and submission to HAS. You can use the guidelines on the card to give a proper description of the species you see. The more information that is collected on cetaceans in this region, the more likely it is that the conservation movement's effort to save these animals will bear fruit. Appendix B lists suggestions for equipment that you might need and use whilst whale-watching in the tropics. Appendix C contains information on first aid and other help for stranded whales and dolphins. The guide concludes with a Glossary with illustrations of behavioural terms and definitions of specialised terms. The author would like to thank the following people and organisations for their help: Andrew Armour, John Fuller, Erich Hoyt, Jennifer McCann, Hector Ramirez, William Rossiter, Nathalie Ward, Dominica Conservation Associa tion, Environmental Awareness Group of Antigua-Barbuda, Globe Pequot Press, Island Resources Foundation, and St Christopher Heritage Society A special acknowledgement is made to Bruce Horwith for making the idea take form, Sara Farinelli for typesetting and assistance in editing the text, and Bunmi for patiently supporting her whale-crazy husband1

St. John's, Antigua February 1994 Introduction

If you are to go on an organised whale-watch, find out whether sighting records are sent to conservation groups and ask if a part of the trip price goes towards cetacean conservation. Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to the conservation of these wonderful , but operators aiding in whale and dolphin protection work will usually be responsible and instructive. Whilst watching whales and dolphins, readers should appreciate the importance of showing respect for their welfare Boats should not approach nearer than 100 yards and should not frighten the animals with sudden changes of direction, or excessive speed and noise. In return, their unconcerned response will allow for prolonged viewing and photographic opportunities of the animals. If you feel that the boat's captain is distressing the animals, ask that the disturbance desist. There are regulations in some countries controlling whale-watching, however these are presently not applied or enforced in this region with the exception of the Dominican Republic and Virgin Islands. Harassment by whale-watchers is not the sole hazard these animals face. Significant dangers are also posed by over-fishing of prey, incidental capture of dolphins in fishing nets, oceanic noise pollution from shipping and test equipment, and direct taking of small cetaceans for oceanaria exhibits and small and large cetaceans for meat. In fact, the International Commission (IWC) rules under its founding Convention allow for 'subsis tence' or 'small-scale fisheries' and 'scientific whaling' by certain ethnic groups and member countries, respectively. The latter procedure allows the killing of whales in the interest of science, but it has been abused and, in spite of criticism by conservationists, the illegal practice of exporting meat from whales slaughtered for the purpose persists. However, chemical pollution of the world's is perhaps the worst threat facing cetaceans. Indeed some observe that the bio-accumulation of PCBs and other toxins in the animals' fat reserves might pose an insuperable danger, dooming them to extinction through breeding difficulties and illness. Certain populations of dolphins have shown signs of various diseases, occasioned or made worse by pollution-suppressed immune systems, causing mass die-offs We may be seeing the last of these animals, but while we have time, let us earnestly work to prevent their decline Whale-watching is growing in popularity. The IWC recently endorsed this 'use' as a sustainable, economically viable alternative to hunting. It can be one of the most testing, even frustrating, of nature-watching activities, but it is also one of the most fascinating and rewarding. Good luck!

in Spray Dam/Cut-water/Splash Guard Rostral Ridges Blowholes

Baleen Plates Insertion Pleats

Figure 1.

Melon Dorsal Fi Caudal Peduncle/Tailstock Beak Flank

Fluke Notch

Teeth

Pectoral Fin'/Flipper/Pec Navel / Mammary Slits Uro-genital Slit

Figure 2.

R o s t r u m B l o w h o l e Crenelations/Knuckles

Tooth Dorsal Ridge

Gular Groove Flipper Pocket

Figure 3. Beaked Whale PART I: An Identification Guide to Whales and Dolphins

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Other names: Finback, Rorqual, Razorback, Ballena Boba (Latir America) Physical description: The larg est whale likely to be seen and the second largest of all species; / 60 to 70, but up to 80 feet in length in northern hemisphere. Females average larger than males in common with the displayed in all baleen whales. Calves up to 21 feet at birth. Narrow, V-shaped and dorsally flat head, sharply pointed rostrum and, usually, single median rostral ridge not reaching rostrum tip. Large retractable splash guard anterior to blowholes. Long, slender body uniformly dark to very dark dorsally and light ventrally. Light chevrons on body before dorsal fin and pointed to the flukes are not always apparent. Right lower lip and right foresection of baleen light to white, occasionally right upper lip too. Body occasionally scarred by dislodged parasites or hitch-hiking creatures. Dorsal fin to two feet, falcate and approximately one-third body length from the fluke notch, usually forming an angle of less than 40 degrees to the line of the back. Prominent ridge from dorsal fin to flukes, hence its common name of 'razorback'. As all rorqual whales, has throat or rorqual pleats, in this species 56 to 100 of them; designed to allow massive expansion of the gular region when filter-feeding. Flippers or pectoral fins show white underneath; thin, pale lower lengthwise section on top. Flukes centrally notched, slightly concave trailing edge, wide, white beneath. Individuals identified by dorsal fin, chevrons and scars. Behaviour: Fast swimmer and deep diver, rising to the surface, at near a right angle, the dorsal fin appearing some time after the rostrum and blow. Blow is powerful and up to 25 feet tall, widening at crown into an ellipse, repeated four to seven times at 10 to 20-plus second intervals. On

sounding, a 'wheel-like' silhouette is presented to the observer as the arches its bulk high out of the water prior to staying below the surface for five to 15 minutes or more. The flukes are not unfurled and seldom break the surface. Occasionally will breach (see Fig 5), giving a resounding splash on re-entry—some observers believe this to be a form of communication Whilsttravelling and thus not diving deeply, will show dorsal fin immediately after the rostrum on surfacing Found in feeding pods of up to six or seven, more often than other Feeding: Opportunistic feeder on swarming crustaceans, euphausiids, fish etc. during summer. It is believed that the asymmetric head colouring is used in concentrating fish shoals as the animal circles clockwise in the deep Seen to feed on its side at the surface when engulfing swarming fish Feeds during winter at a much reduced rate Range: Pelagic, migratory to the tropics in the winter months, though at least one population in Pacific known to remain year-round in warm waters. Unlikely to be seen south of the Greater Antilles, and then singly or in twos. Breeding: Age at sexual maturity may be as low as six years in response to depletion of numbers by past whaling. Gestation period of 11 to 12 months Calves nurse to seven months Status: Vulnerable Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Lacepede, 1804) Other names: Piked Whale, Lesser Rorqual Physical description: Smaller than other rorquals, 25 to 30, up to 35 feet in length. Head narrow and pointed in profile, single rostral ridge sharper than in fin whale Unmarked chunky body dorsally dark grey to black with lighter grey flanks in some animals, and a light chevron (or 'bracket mark') behind the head in others (similar to fin whales). Ventrally white, 50 to 70 rorqual pleats ending before navel. Pectoral flippers have heavy white band across in northern hemisphere populations, visible from a boat when animal close to surface. Flippers white beneath Dorsal fin is relatively tall (height to body length ratio is 1:26) and hooked or 'falcate', positioned slightly further than one-third of the way forward of the fluke notch Behaviour: Curious of noise and boats Does breach, most often in feeding, when it frequently re-enters water headfirst and with little commotion. Swims

at approximately six miles per hour, though capable of 17 mph. Blow is low and indistinct and simultaneous with dorsal fin breaking surface; repeated five to eight times in intervals of less than one minute. On diving, tailstock is strongly arched (contrast sei whale and compare fin whale), but no flukes are made visible. Three to eight minute dives are usual, though 20-minute dives have been recorded. Feeding: Small shoaling fish and some euphausiids are taken by swallowing underwater, though lunge-feeding (i.e. feeding by lunging through the gathered prey at the surface; see Fig. 8) and breaching clear of the water to corral prey are seen sometimes. Seen singly and in twos and threes Larger groups occur less often, usually when feeding. Range: Usually pelagic; worldwide distribution, regular though scarce in this region with bulk of western North Atlantic population wintering off Florida. Migratory to the subtropics in winter and there is some evidence for males moving further from the equator to feed in summer, up to the polar ice, females and immatures staying further south and in coastal areas. Conversely, some populations will remain near home waters year-round at high latitudes, simply moving on and offshore. Recorded off Dominican Republic, Antigua and Guadeloupe. Breeding: Sexual maturity at age six to seven. Most mating occurs between October and March. Gestation 10 to 11 months. Calves eight to nine feet at birth, nurse up to six months. Females ovulate twice yearly and reproduce every one to two years. May live to 40 years old. Status: Insufficiently known. Threatened through hunting by Norway, with Iceland likely to follow suit. Continues to be subject to scientific whaling under IWC rules by Norway and Japan. Remarks: The race in North Atlantic waters has been accorded the race name B.a. acutorostrata by some authorities. Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis (Lesson,'1828) Other names: Rudolphi's Rorqual, Rorcual Negro (Latin America) Physical description: Difficult to separate from Bryde's whale or small fin whale; 45 to 60 feet in length in northern hemisphere. Calves at birth 15 feet. Head slightly more arched than in fin whale, with a single rostral ridge to the snout tip and a downward turn at the snout tip—contrast . Body sleek and streamlined, dorsally dark blue-grey to grey with blue tinge Bryde's Whale

on lighter flanks sometimes. Grey right lower lip—contrast fin whale. Median ventral pleats of which there are 32 to 60 are slightly lighter with occasional pink hue. Remoras leave whitish scars on the body, giving a galvanised appearance. Tall dorsal fin to two feet, falcate and forming an angle of 45 degrees with the line of the back. Fin often has a 'knee' on foremargin and is positioned just over one-third of the body length from the fluke notch. Ratio of dorsal height to body length is 1:30. Wide flukes are centrally notched and have a near straighttrailing edge. Behaviour: Capable of swift swimming. A sur face or skim feeder not usually deep-diving; ^^^mrn^L^ leaves clear trails in the water on sounding * without showing flukes for a shallow dive of typically five to six, sometimes up to 20, minutes. On surfacing, the head and blow appear simultaneously with the dorsal fin. Blows two to three times at 20-second intervals, blow reaching 15 feet in height in the shape of an inverted cone. Stays at surface for relatively long periods. Not known to breach. Wary of boats. Feeding: Skim feeding by slow swimming, rolling from side-to-side in plankton-rich areas for copepods, calanoid crustaceans, euphausiids; occasionally gulp- or side-feeding for small fish etc. Range: Pelagic; temperate and subtropical deep waters. Possible but likely rare winter visitor to this region, though status unclear due to confusion with Bryde's whale. Found in groups of three to five. Recorded off Venezuela Breeding: Sexually mature at 10 years. Gestation of 11 to 12 months. Calves nurse to six or seven months. Reproductive cycle of two to three years. Most breeding activity is in the winter, though year-round. May live to 60 years old. Status: Vulnerable. North Atlantic population may be no more than 3,000 animals.

Bryde's Whale Balaenoptera edeni (Anderson, 1878)

^^^. Other names: Tropical Whale, Ballena de Bryde (Latin America) Physical description: Two forms—in shore, which are smaller, and offshore, larger—are recognised. Approximately 40 feet in the male; female slightly larger. Calves 14 feet at birth. Head less pointed than in minke whale. Three rostral ridges, one median and two auxiliaries near parallel, form a key identification feature. Uniformly smoky grey to black (darker on average than sei

whales) dorsally and laterally; ventrally lighter, sometimes white from belly to chin. Body sleek and streamlined, but stockier than sei whale. Dorsal fin to 18 inches, very falcate, pointed at tip and often frayed along the posterior margin; forms angle of approximately 70 degrees with the line of the back and lies about one-third way along body from fluke notch—contrast sei whale; 40-50 rorqual pleats. Behaviour: Can be curious of boats, though less so when feeding. Deep-diving, breaking surface with most of rostrum well before the dorsal fin appears. Blow is tall and thin, up to 13 feet. Breathing sequence is less regular than the shallow-diving sei whale, with three to four short blows at intervals of approximately 10 to 15 seconds. Before sounding, body and tailstock are roundly arched high out of the water, though the flukes are not unfurled. Dive can last from five up to 20 minutes. Animal can be difficult to follow when feeding as often erratic in speed and change of direction, swimming in a zig-zag pattern more like a dolphin than a large rorqual—contrast sei whale. Known to breach; observed whilst feeding to half-breach and roll at surface, reminiscent of fin whale. Feeding: Underwater swallower of planktonic crustaceans, shoaling fish, also cephalopods and, possibly inadvertently, sharks. Seen to feed on its side in areas of high concentration offish, using the herding of prey by other predators such as and sharks to its advantage. Found in groups of up to seven, but often singly or in pairs. Range: Tropical and subtropical oceans. The offshore form is believed migratory, which is borne out by observations off Venezuela, with abundance in numbers from late spring to December (Best). The inshore form is thought to be non-migratory. Breeding: Sexual maturity is likely 10 years in females, nine to 13 in males Estrus in females is less season-specific than other whales, giving this species an extended breeding season. Gestation of approximately one year. Calves nurse to six months old. Status: Insufficiently known. Numbers in the North Atlantic are unknown.

Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) Other names: Ballena Jorobada (Latin America) Physical description: From 38 to 43 feet, up to 53 feet in length. Head broad and arched, marked with fleshy knobs or 'tubercles' above. In lateral view, with a rounded protuberance at the lower jaw tip it resembles tapering head of crocodile Body dark grey to grey-brown, robust but narrowing Humpback Whale

markedly after the dorsal fin to the tail. Whitish ventral surface. Flippers up to 16 feet or one-third body length, marked white to varying extent above, all white below and leading edge scalloped and slightly S- curved trailing margin. Dorsal fin low and variable in shape from hook to triangle, situated slightly less than one-third body length from fluke notch. Can be marked with white scar tissue. Individuals can be identified by pattern of underside of flukes and dorsal fin shape. Smooth or slightly irregular bumpy post- dorsal fin ridge. Flukes crenelated along trailing edge; 14 to 35 rorqual pleats below. Behaviour: Usually a slow swimmer—contrast Sa/- aenopterinae subfamily. Will ordinarily fluke up to dive, though travelling whales in the West Indies seem to draw less attention by slipping below the surface in a shallow dive. On surfacing from a shallow dive, head and blow appear at same time as dorsal fin. Blow is full and bushy to 10 feet, given approximately two to six times in two to three minutes, followed by a dive of three to 15 minutes. Can be curious of vessels—author knows of at least one instance of an immature being petted at boat-side. The most active of all whales at the surface, breaching, tail-lobbing, pec-slapping, pec-raising, lunging, barrel- rolling, head-standing, spy-hopping, and lolling at the surface (see Figs. 4-11)—thus by far the most photogenic, too. Feeding: Crustaceans, sand lance, herring, capelin, cephalopod molluscs taken in feeding lunges Bubble-net feeding noted in Alaskan and other northern waters. This feeding technique involves one or more whales circling to the surface from the deep, blowing air bubbles as they go to corral shoaling fish or krill, which are gulped down at the final surface-breaking lunge. Deep dives to feed are usual. Whales do not usually feed during winter breeding period when they lose up to a third of their body weight. Range: Tropical in winter to coastal South America in the western North Atlantic stock, for mating and calving. The largest numbers in the region are found off the Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the southern Grenadines. Will occur anywhere in the region in late autumn to early spring, being easily the most likely large whale to be seen there. Recorded from nearly all the islands in the West Indies. Yearly summer migrations to high latitudes—when whales which might use different Cuvier's Beaked Whale

wintering grounds travel to feed in one distinct area—are well documented. Studies from Atlantic coastal Colombia have proved that whales wintering in the northern hemisphere occasionally cross the equator to reach southern feeding grounds. Breeding: Gestation 11 to 12 months. Calves are near 15 feet at birth and nurse to one year occasionally, though normally to six months. As cows lactate whilst pregnant, calving cycle can be yearly, though more often once every two or three years. Males 'sing' on the breeding grounds, in warm tropical shallows, possibly to attract mates. Yachtsmen may hear this clearly from close animals. See Remarks. Males rowdily compete for access to cows which sometimes have calves in tow. Newly pregnant females leave breeding grounds first, then immatures and males and finally cows with calves. Status: Vulnerable; threatened by some small scale whaling in the waters near Bequia off St. Vincent. However, the low numbers taken each year do not pose as great a threat as pollution or disturbance to the environment of this portion of the western North Atlantic population, the whole of which may number only 5,000-8,000 animals. Remarks: Work carried out in and Bermuda has led to a significant yet incomplete understanding of the singing behaviour. 'Songs' of six to 36 minutes have been recorded, these often repeated for hours on end. Songs share common themes in Atlantic stocks, but are unlike those of the Pacific stocks. It is not yet clear whether baleen whales do more than display or communicate with their range of sound—contrast the echo-location skills demonstrated by the toothed whales. No subspecies is known. Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris (G. Cuvier, 1823) Other names: Goosebeak Whale Physical description: Likely to be confused with bottlenose whales rather than other, smaller Ziphiidae. In contrast, it has a small beak, gently sloping fore head, and a small hollow behind blow hole. Beak is broader, less sharp than in Gervais' beaked whale. To 23 feet in males, females slightly smaller. In mature males look for two clean teeth erupted from tip of lower, upturned jaw, visible when mouth closed; also a white head and dorsum to the dorsal fin. Mature cows show light coloured head. Head side-profile in all ages and both sexes can seem goosebeak- like with lower jaw protruding beyond upper. Body colour variable dark to Blainville's Beaked Whale

light brown or grey, scarred and blotched lighter. Dorsal fin set to rear of body is up to 15 inches tall and from falcate to triangular in shape. Behaviour: More likely to be encountered than other Ziphiidae in this region, though still seldom recorded. Adult males may occur alone. Seen on occasion in social groups to 10 strong, usually with one adult male. Will swim vigorously at the surface, exposing entire head on occasion. Blow is inconspicuous and low, angled forward and to the left; repeated at 20-second intervals as whale dips below surface briefly. Rolls with a strong arching action on sounding; unnotched flukes with concave rear margin that can sometimes be observed in a near vertical dive. This demonstrative behaviour is in contrast to that of Mesoplodon species. Reported to be wary of boats; will dive and resurface behind vessel. Feeding: Squid and fish; some observers contend that scars indicate hostile prey. See Breeding. Deep diver, able to stay down 40 minutes or longer. Range: Pelagic; tropical and temperate oceans. Migratory in some populations. Probably not rare in the world's oceans and classed as relatively common in the Caribbean by some authorities, though rarely seen. Recorded from the Bahamas and St. Vincent. Breeding: Unknown, save that calves are born approximately eight feet long and tan or light brown. Scars on body attributed to fighting between animals, possibly during mating period. May live to 35 years. Males may possibly outlive females by many years. Status: Insufficiently known. Some threat; caught previously in small numbers by fishermen from St. Vincent. Blainville's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris (de Blainville, 1817) Other names: Dense Beaked Whale Physical description: Ziphiidae are infrequently recorded; fe- males/immatures are very hard to identify. Up to an average of 15 feet long, stout body. Small, flat head, displaying a lengthwise crease in rostral surface directly in front of . Adult male has pronounced rostral crease and exaggeratedly raised line of the lower jaw, which protrudes at sides beyond the line of its forehead; positioned on top are two obtruding teeth, which become covered in barnacles over time Contrast Cuvier's beaked whale. Body lighter below; darker grey to black above with blotches and scars all over, due to attacks by Globicephalidae whales and Gervais' Beaked Whale

intra-specificencounters as well as parasitisation. Mature males show red or white patches on top of head. Females have white upper and lower jaws. Dorsal fin small, situated at rear of mid-body line. Flukes, unnotched with straight trailing edge; dark above, light below. Flippers lighter in colour than dorsum, fitting snugly into body depressions or 'pockets' (see Fig. 3). Behaviour: Seen to surface almost vertically from deep dives. Blow indistinct and angled forward. Slow swimming. Head held up on breathing, splashes back into water on diving in an otherwise graceful roll. Sounds without displaying flukes. Not acrobatic and hard to 'pick up' at sea. Sometimes seen in small groups up to seven. If an adult male is present, identification becomes much simpler. See Physical description. Feeding: Squid and some fish taken on dives of 20 up to 45 minutes. Range: Pelagic, possibly with a distribution more offshore than any other Mesoplodon. Tropical to cool waters. Recorded in western North Atlantic waters more than elsewhere. Rarely seen alive, more often found stranded in numbers suggesting a reasonable world population; no estimates exist. Records in the region from the Bahamas and Cayman Islands. Breeding: Unknown but calf size estimated at six feet and blue-grey above, cream below. Sexual maturity estimated at nine years. Status: Insufficiently known. Gervais' Beaked Whale Mesoplodon europaeus (Gervais, 1855) Other names: Antillean Beaked Whale, Gulf Stream Beaked _. . Whale Physical description: Ziphiidae, especially sub-adults, are seldom seen and hard to identify. Mesoplodon species all appear laterally compressed when viewed from above; this species shows that trait most clearly. Small head, narrow beak with large body to sixteen and a half feet in length. Dark grey above lightening to pale grey below. White markings near anus. Forehead displays bulge. Dorsal fin small, approxi mately one-third distance from flukes along body, falcate to triangular. Sometimes shows white on lower jaw and tip of upper jaw. Adult males only have two erupted teeth at one-third distance from tip of lower jaw to gape, which show even with closed mouth. Flipper pockets visible on close inspection. Behaviour: Little is known of this animal. Not acrobatic; inconspicuous blow and little surface activity in common with other members.

Feeding: Deep diver for squid The two erupted teeth are thought to be used in hunting and catching, it is equally likely that the pulse sound mechanism suspected in sperm whales also exists in and is used by Ziphiidae. Range: Gulf Stream coast strandings suggest but do not define the species range; likely to be concentrated in deep warm waters of the south-west North Atlantic. Strandings have occurred in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago. Records from South Atlantic also. Breeding: Unknown, save that calves are approximately six and a half feet at birth and are dark grey above and white below Status: Insufficiently known.

Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Other names: Great Sperm Whale, Cachalot, Ballena Esperma (Latin America) Physical description: Should not be confused with humpback whale or Ziphiidae species if a good view is obtained. Large head, up to one-third of body size in adult males, squarish; prominent single S-shaped blow hole to left and forward Head bulk significantly less in females and juveniles In all, the narrow lower jaw ..^ does not reach to the snout tip, the former looks white when viewed from the surface. Body dark brown-grey and * stocky. Ventrally lighter

>S, on belly; corners of mouth and forward section of head also show lighter. Low, hump-like or triangular dorsal fin, displaying callosities on the leading edge in adult females, about one-third way forward of fluke notch. Skin wrinkled in texture aft of head Females rarely beyond 37 feet, mature males up to 55 feet Lower jaw has teeth whilst upper has unerupted teeth set in sockets Triangular flukes show in profile a deep central notch with a convex to straight trailing margin, which is sometimes slightly frayed and rounded on tips, brown to grey below. Caudal peduncle and keel appear powerful and deep in this pelagic animal. Short and wide flippers, brown to grey below Throat has lengthwise gular grooves on occasion. Behaviour: Can be carefully approached when loafing (resting or sleeping) log-like at the surface oetween long dives for up to an hour, though 15

10 Sperm Whale

minutes is more usual. Blow angled forward at 45 degrees and to the animal's left side, strong and up to eight feet. On diving, invariably shows flukes after roundly arching the tail-stock, displaying crenelations or 'knuckles' from the dorsal hump to the tail. Does breach. Known to strand en masse. Feeding: Deep-diving for cephalopods, mainly squid, giant squid and some octopi; also fish and benthic organisms. Hunting and feeding may be a cooperative affair. Dives for large males exceed one and a half hours and 9,000 feet depths on occasion. This is achieved by collapsing lungs below 330 feet and forcing all oxygen into windpipe and nasal passages to avoid absorption of nitrogen. Sometimes bear scars from encounters with prey, though as likely caused in males by aggressive meetings between rivals. Remoras found on whales in the tropics, though some authorities suggest that practice of deep diving would prevent the occurrence of such mutualists. Females will leave offspring in the charge of relatives as in a creche when feeding at depths of several thousand feet for long periods The sperm whale—like all Odontoceti— uses its sense for echo- locating prey in murky depths and also for communicating. It is thought that prey may be stunned with low frequency sonar pulses of enormous force emitted from the forebrain area and focussed via the . Some researchers attribute the head's size to this hunting technique, whilst others believe its function is the thermo-regulation of the spermaceti oil in the melon by the voluntary introduction of water into the huge right, sealed nasal passage. It is believed that this helps the creature dive deep and achieve neutral buoyancy as well as surface easily since oil changes in density when alternately cooled and heated. Range: Pelagic; occurs also in near-shore deep waters. Bulls tropical in winter when briefly associating with females in breeding activity. At this time, they form bachelor schools with pubertal males. In summer, adult males leave the schools and are often solitary, ranging up to polar latitudes to feed. Females and calves as well as sub-adult males may be found in distinct sub-groups or together in mixed schools year-round in subtropical and tropical only, eg. west coast of Dominica, though most populations range to higher latitudes in summer. Female membership of such schools may be permanent. Have stranded on Antiguan shores and been recorded off Dominican Republic, Montserrat, Dominica, Anguilla and St. Barts. Breeding: Breeding season from February to July. Females are sexually mature at seven to 11 years of age, males at 10 and over. Gestation is 15 months. Calves are 12 to 15 feet in length, weigh one ton and are tan to grey in colour, darkening early on. Mating access arrangement and other facets of breeding cycle appear complex. Sub-adult males group when they

11

leave maternal care, whilst adult bulls swim alone or, occasionally, in small groups in summer. Females will protect and assist a pregnant cow on delivery of her single calf. Groups of females with young or 'nursery schools' are constant throughout the year, being interrupted sporadically for mating activity. Bulls are polygamous. Calves nurse approximately two years, and females give birth only once every four to five years. May live to 60 years old. Status: Insufficiently known. Remarks: The spermaceti oil together with ambergris found in the stomach were once prized by whalers. It is believed one million animals were killed in 150 years of commercial whaling, the USA alone taking 225,000 between 1804 and 1876. No races are known.

Pygmy Sperm Whale breviceps (de Blainville, 1838) Other names: Cachalot Pigmee Physical description: In both sexes, nine to 11 feet, up to 12 feet in length. Contrast . Head bears false gill mark behind eye and is conical, blunt-tipped; appears triangular from above. Lower jaw with 20 to 32 teeth does not obtrude to match toothless upper jaw's length. Body robust and dark grey to grey-blue in colour dorsally. Off-white to grey ventrally. Pale patch of grey before eye in some individuals. Small, squat flippers positioned well forward and low on the body. Centrally notched, small flukes are concave on the rear margin. Blowhole well forward and left of mid-line of head. Dorsal fin is small (height to body length ratio of 1:21) and sickle-shaped and set just over one-third way from the flukes along the back—contrast dwarf sperm whale. Look for the head shape to distinguish from larger beaked whales. Shares with P. macrocephalus the bulbous snout containing the spermaceti organ. Skin texture wrinkled in some animals. Small crenelations from dorsal fin to flukes along ridge. Body tapers abruptly at the narrow tailstock. Behaviour: Little is known of this species. Seen best on very calm days when they may occur singly or, rarely, in groups of up to seven; sometimes loafing whilst preparing to dive, sometimes sleeping. In such a position, the pygmy is reported to float higher in the water with more of its back and head exposed than the dwarf sperm whale. If startled, may defecate before diving, leaving a red camouflage cloud. Blow low and indistinct. Rarely seen to breach. Sluggish. Feeding: Deep-diving for cephalopods, squid, cuttlefish and crabs.

12 Dwarf Sperm Whale

Range: Pelagic, in warm and cooler oceans. Distribution less tropical than K. simus. Deeper areas beyond continental shelf edge favoured. Recorded from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Dominica. Breeding: Gestation of approximately 11 months after breeding activity from autumn to spring. May reproduce annually, since mature females stranded often pregnant and lactating. Calves approximately three and a half feet. Status: Insufficiently known, but it may be less uncommon than thought as relatively large numbers strand on the Atlantic coast of USA. Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia simus (Owen, 1866) Other names: Rat Whale, Ogawa Komakko Kujira (Japan) Physical description: Seven to nine feet in length. Head is lopsided, snub-nosed and gently tapering, giving a squarish profile; but not so square as pygmy sperm whale. Pale grey false gillmark to rear of eye. Lower jaw, containing 14 to 24 protruding teeth, ends short of the upper jaw, with up to six. Body is stout and dark gun-metal grey above, lighter on flanks and dull white to pink below. Look for dorsal fin close to middle of back ridge, which is tall (height to body length ratio of 1:19) broad-based and falcate—suggesting Tursiops genus, so be careful. Head shape will distinguish from melon-headed and pygmy . Pectoral flippers are broad and short. Flukes have deep central notch. Skin texture can be wrinkled. Throat shows several lengthwise creases in some animals—contrast K. breviceps. If found stranded, can be distinguished from K. breviceps by dorsal fin, size and length from blowhole to snout tip, which is less than one-tenth body length. Behaviour: Dearth of reliable records of this species hinders a clear understanding. Shy, unobtrusive; confusion with pygmy sperm whale is a problem, also care to separate from small beaked whale species and dolphins should be taken. Observers note lethargy at the surface after, presumably, long dive periods. Does not roll energetically like dolphin species. On diving, seems to settle into water rather than roll over. Slower swimmer and less gregarious than P. electra and F. attenuata. May school into breeding groups without calves, mother and calf groups and sub-adult groups. Feeding: Squid at depths up to 1,000 feet, also fish and shellfish. Range: Tropical and subtropical deep waters. May be found nearer shore than pygmy sperm whale, feeding over the continental slope and shelf edge

13 Rough-toothed Dolphin

Possibly more common than its congener in the tropics Breeding: Breeding period up to six months of the year May give birth once a year, since on the occasions when females have been seen, often they were with calf Calves approximately three feet, with less square head than adults Status: Insufficiently known. Possible threat by small cetacean fisheries in waters of Barrouallie in St Vincent Rough-Toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis (Lesson, 1828)

Other names: Delfin de Pico Largo (Latin America) Physical description: To approximately nine feet. Long, pointed beak (hence its Spanish name), sloping uniformly forward from posterior Look for the white beak tip with white to pink lip(s)—pro nounced in older animals. No crease separates beak from melon Head shape gives conical mpression from lateral and dorsal viewpoints. : Dark grey or black, streamlined but robust body is lighter on flanks. Resulting cape pattern is narrow, fading to a thin line forward of the dorsal fin and barely covering the dorsal ridge aft. White belly; adults develop a ventral keel. Falcate, long-based dorsal fin at mid-body. Long, broad flippers taper to blunt point. Pale scars on body are thought to come from cookie-cutter shark bites and produce a spotted or blotched appearance. Black eyes are large. Relatively wide flukes. Common name derived from crinkled lines in crowns of teeth. Behaviour: Little is known of its habits. Usually seen in groups of fewer than 20, but have been seen in numbers up to 50 on occasion, sometimes with bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales. Seen to skim along surface for protracted periods, snout and dorsal fin exposed. Not very acrobatic, on occasion will seek boats' company to bow-ride briefly and then frolic in the wake. Feeding: Squid, molluscs and pelagic fish. Deep diving for cephalopods, but seeking prey such as flying fish near surface May lurk near surface debris to catch unwary prey. Range: Pelagic, tropical oceans and warm temperate waters. Recorded from Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Breeding: Unknown, save that in captivity a Tursiops hybridised with a Steno successfully Studies conducted in the Pacific indicate sexual maturity at approximately 14 years and 10 years in males and females, respectively.

14 Short-finned

Status: Insufficiently known. May be less rare than previously believed, though nowhere common, but there is some threat in the West Indies from subsistence fishermen taking this species incidentally when seeking short-finned pilot whales. Short-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus (Gray, 1846) Other names: Pothead, Blackfish, Ballena Piloto (Latin America) Physical description: Male, 18 feet in length; female, 13 feet. Melon bulbous and large, over hanging the rostral platform, es pecially in adult males. Contrast pygmy killer and melon-headed whales. Jaws have 14 to 18 teeth above and the same below. Postdorsal fin saddle mark in light grey seen only in exceptional light conditions and post-blowhole chevron occasionally seen. Note the dorsal fin, which is low and broad-based, beginning forward of mid-body, falcate and round-tipped. Contrast pygmy killer and melon-headed whales. Flippers are long and narrow, reaching one-sixth of body length. Tailstockdeep and powerful. Behaviour: Slow-swimming and easily followed at the surface, whilst resting after feeding at night or even whilst travelling. Does not show the mouth—contrast false and pygmy killer whales. May show notched flukes on diving deeply. In schools of 15 to 50 with adult males, cows and calves, and juveniles in loose sub-groups, often in line abreast. Recent research suggests that the society is complex and matriarchal, females living well beyond their reproductive years Schools aggregate from time to time for feeding and mating. Males reaching maturity leave their family group whilst females remain, possibly for life. This may (with some of the Ziphiidae) be one of the most intelligent of all cetaceans. Herds are susceptible to stranding. Rarely acrobatic, but does spy-hop. Often found in the company of bottlenose dolphins. Feeding: Deep dives for feeding on cephalopods and fish with some indication that more activity takes place in the night when its prey moves up in the water column with the light-sensitive planktonic deep-scattering layer (DSL). May follow prey on seasonal migrations onshore and offshore Animals may form a long hunting line abreast for better prey detection. Range: Tropical and warm temperate oceans, usually pelagic Classed as common in the Caribbean Sea. Average group size of 20 to 25 animals. Breeding: Gestation of 15 to 16 months. Calves, four and a half feet at

15 Killer Whale

birth, nurse for one to two years. Females may give birth only once in four years. Status: Insufficiently known. Threat posed by small scale fishery in Cuba, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Killer Whale orca (Linnaeus, 1758)

Other names: Great Killer Whale, Orca, Blackfish, Grampus, Trasher Physical description: Largest of the Delphinidae, adult bulls reaching 30 feet in length and eight tons in weight; females to 22 feet. Males have an erect dorsal fin of up to six feet in height; smaller and falcate in females. Body large and stout, black dorsally with a grey 'saddle' patch aft of the dorsal fin (used in individual identification in good light) and with a white post-ocular patch. White ventrally, colour extending from chin along belly to an apex and also up to each lower flank, in a three-prong fork shape. Head broad and blunt with hint of a beak. Flippers broad and rounded, largest in the males. Blow in adults can be seen from some distance. Behaviour: Will approach boats though in a nonchalant manner as befits the seas' most powerful predator. Fast travelling and extraordinarily powerful, displaying thrilling acrobatic manoeuvres on occasion such as breaching and lobtailing; often spy-hops. Seen in small pods, usually with an adult male present, to large 'superpods' of up to 75. Researchers realise that pods have unique 'dialects' to their communication sounds, presenting a possible hurdle for release of alien, captive animals back to the wild. Dives for four to 10 minutes with repeated and quick blow pattern on surfacing. Feeding: Will take fish, seabirds, turtles and marine mammals, primarily but also cetaceans and sirenians. May hunt over a large area. Cooperative efforts to subdue even adult baleen whales have been witnessed by a few observers. See Remarks. Range: Throughout the world's oceans from the poles to the equator. Seen irregularly in this region in small groups; records from Dominica and St. Vincent. May travel 70 miles in a day. Breeding: Gestation is about 14 months. Calves born at seven feet and 450 pounds; nurse for up to two years. They are yellowy-white on the eye and belly patches, possessing no saddle marking. Some evidence of breeding between closely related animals in certain populations.

16

Status: Insufficiently known. Remarks: There is keen debate on the taxonomic status of this species—a group of Russian scientists working in Antarctic seas have described a new species (Orcinus glacialis), being smaller and showing different body patterning and behavioural traits from the nominate species (Berzin & Vladimirov). Further, from work carried out in British Columbian waters, it seems that the orcas or 'residents' feed on fish and travel in approachable pods up to 30 strong; whereas the killer whales or 'transients' take sea mammals and birds by hunting in small pods, adopting secretive tactics and not calling whilst foraging. Yet other studies in Argentina suggest the animals may simply take prey as it is available and will adapt their behaviour to hunting that prey. Further work may still lead to a sub-species or new species being declared. False Killer Whale crassidens (Owen, 1846)

Other names: Pseudorca, Mongoose Fish, Orca Falsa (Latin America) Physical description: Large, to 14 feet in females and 16 feet in males. Body long but fairly robust and uniformly ^^ very dark grey to black. Head is without beak and lighter grey coloured, due to scratching, than '. rest of body and tapered from for ward of the blowhole to the rounded melon, which overhangs lower jaw—con trast pilot whale. Head small in comparison with body size. Mouthline long and straight. Crease in melon from before eye towards snout tip is parallel to mouthline. Light patch on chest to belly area, grey to pink; ventral blaze similar to but paler than that seen in pilot whales. May show post-ocular chevron-like blaze. Tall dorsal fin just aft of mid-body, long pointed flippers with diagnostic 'knee' on leading edge; pointed flukes. May open mouth to show large teeth at the surface, simultaneously displaying back, dorsal fin and upper flanks. Behaviour: Very acrobatic, often lobtailing and breaching well clear of the water; fast swimmer. Will approach boats and ride on the bow or in the wake, sometimes in mixed groups (eg. with bottlenose dolphins). Herds in large numbers over 50 on occasion; herds consist of mixed ages and sexes. Known to strand en masse. Epimeletic, or 'care-giving', actions recorded; animals will help each other when at risk. In one case, a group

17

reportedly came to the aid of a diver in the Caribbean using a partly waterlogged snorkel (Porter). Feeding: Known to attack and kill smaller and even larger cetaceans Usually feeds on squid and pelagic fish. Range: Worldwide; occurs to 55 degrees latitude north on occasion, though usually in warmer waters, invariably beyond the 100-fathom line. Probably not common in its range. Has live-stranded on Antigua. Recorded from Cuba, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Local migration undertaken for feeding and breeding. Breeding: Sexual maturity reached from eight to 14 years of age. Calves may be born in any season and reach six feet. Status: Insufficiently known.

Pygmy Killer Whale Feresa attenuata (Gray, 1875)

Other names: Slender Pilot Whale, Orca Pig- meo (Latin America) Physical description: Six to eight feet, up to nine; slender in body. Pointed, falcate dorsal fin with waved, trailing edge approxi mately one foot tall and resem bling Tursiops species. Rounded, narrow head; no beak; slightly underslung jaw. Roundtipped flippers. Contrast false killer whale and melon-headed whale. Dark grey to black dorsum. In good light, look for distinct cape demarcated by slightly paler flanks. Cape extends furthest down the flanks below the dorsal fin. Lips and, occasionally, chin white, forming a 'goatee', which can be seen on a breathing whale as it swims at or near the surface Upper chest area marked with whitish 'anchor' or T-shaped pattern Grey-white patch on lower belly may extend up to lower flanks in some individuals Tail flukes faintly notched. Behaviour: Seen in chorus line formation, which may constitute a hunting technique underwater. Usually in numbers up to 20, on occasion more. Fast swimmers, usually wary of crafts, though the author has approached a pod of 15 and had good views on one occasion. Seen to perform acrobatics and spy-hop. Aggressive behaviour noted in captivity. Feeding: Little known, but observed to eat sardines and known to take small cetaceans, especially sub-adults. Range: Pelagic; confined to tropical and subtropical seas of the world Recorded from Dominica and St. Vincent

18 Melon-headed Whale

Breeding: Unknown, save that calves are born approximately two and a half feet long. Status: Insufficiently known; rarely observed and probably uncommon. Melon-headed Whale Peponocephala electra (Gray, 1846) Other names: Electra Dolphin, Many-toothed Blackfish Physical description: Seven- to nine-foot slender body. Superfi cially similar to small pilot whale. Very similar to pygmy killer whale, save head slightly more pointed with faint but sharp beak, noticeable on close inspection as indentation above upper lip. From above, head appears triangular and more pointed than in F. attenuata. Flippers are tapered and markedly pointed—contrast pygmy killer whale. Dorsal fin, situated at mid-body and up to one foot tall, is more curved, less pointed than in F. attenuata and frequently has a ragged trailing edge. Mouth line short and upturned; lips are white. Small ventral keel may be noticeable at close quarters. Black or dark grey dorsum with indistinct dark brown cape—contrast pygmy killer whale. Ventrally white in some on area around anus with faint grey T-patch on upper chest. May show dark mask to face. Behaviour: Rarely encountered at sea, when large herds made of subgroups are usual, sometimes mixed with Fraser's or other oceanic dolphins. Known from mass strandings; indeed new to science in 1963 and only confirmed in 1966 after 500 animals stranded in Japan. Fast swimmer, breaching on occasion; known to spy-hop. Flees from vessels. Groups will stir the water's surface to a froth when speedily escaping a perceived threat. Feeding: Known to prey upon small cetaceans released from drift-nets in the Pacific as well as small fish, squid. Range: Pelagic and uncommon; tropical and warm temperate seas. Breeding: Sexually mature at approximately seven to 14 years. Little is known of its reproductive habits, save that a young calf caught in tuna nets was nearly four feet long. Gestation is approximately 12 months. Status: Insufficiently known. Some threat posed by small cetacean fisheries in the Lesser Antilles at St. Vincent.

19 Fraser's Dolphin • Risso's Dolphin

Fraser's Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei (Fraser, 1956) / Other names: Sarawak Dolphin, Shortsnout Dolphin Physical description: Up to nearly nine feet in length and chunky. Flipper, flukes and beak appear too squat for an animal of its bulk. Much shorter beak and flippers with smaller slightly falcate to triangular dorsal fin than seen in , which is slimmer. Blue-grey back, dorsal fin and flippers with pinkish-white ventral area. Displays a uniformly wide band along its flank, less contrasting than striped dolphin's stripe and coloured black. Band is lighter in females and juveniles. Parallel to this band and above is a creamy-white band, broadening and fading towards the rear. A dark line, sometimes cleft, runs from fore-flipper to gape; tip of lower jaw usually black. Animal has a 'masked' appearance. Behaviour: Does not usually approach boats and swims fast, breaking surface with some spray. Not observed alive before the 1970s, when the 70-year-old type specimen skeleton from Malaysia, used to introduce the species to science in 1965, was 'brought to life'. Not noted for acrobatics though will jump clear of water whilst travelling. Does not bow-ride. Seen with other species, especially P. electra. Feeding: Deep diver in search of squid and shrimps, probably feeding mostly at night. Range: Tropical seas, mainly offshore deep waters. Seen in large herds in some waters, though in this region known only in small numbers from west of Dominica and off St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Breeding: Unknown reproductive cycle, save that calves are approximately three feet at birth, males maturing at seven years and females at eight. Status: Insufficiently known. Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus (G. Cuvier, 1812) Other names: Grey Dolphin, Grampus, Delfin de Risso (Latin America) Physical description: Large, 10 to 13 feet in length in both sexes, males generally larger than females. Tall falcate dorsal fin at mid-back is dark. Bulky body narrows rapidly after dorsal fin. Darker posterior body to lighter anterior grey scarred with white marks. Adults have mid-grey to whitish appearance overall with white anchor-shaped patch on chest. Head whitish, broad and blunt without a beak; square-looking from the side and tapered

20

from above. Deep 'V crease in forehead from blowhole to upper lip can be seen at close range. Broad, deep centrally notched flukes; long and pointed flippers are dark. Calves are pure light grey in colour, becoming darker grey in juveniles before lightening again. Behaviour: Acrobatic, travelling sometimes singly, but usually in groups up to a dozen. These groups are perhaps segregated by age and sex and form stable units in their society. Bow-rides less freely than some species. Dives one to 30 minutes. Seen with false killer whale in mixed groups. Feeding: Cephalopods, squid etc. and few fish on deep dives. Scars are presumedly from hostile prey or intra-specific encounters. Range: Tropical and warm temperate oceans, occurring to at least latitude 55 degrees north in summer. Deep water species, occurring beyond the 100-fathom line. Recorded from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Probably abundant in suitable Caribbean waters. Breeding: Unknown, save calves are born five feet long; may rarely hybridise with bottlenose dolphins. Status: Insufficiently known. Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris (Gray, 1828)

Other names: Delfin Tornillon (Latin America) Physical description: Five to seven feet, males slightly larger than females. Dark grey dorsally, slender body with diagnostic, forward- leaning, triangular dorsal fin in adult males. Flanks grey and ventral surface paler. Long beak and flippers, more so than in . Lips and beak-tip black. Strong flipper-to-eye line is uniform in width throughout its length—contrast that of clymene dolphin. Adult males show strong keel. Behaviour: Habitually spins along its axis when breaching well clear of the water, reentering head-first. This action alone will identify this species. Seen in large numbers in the eastern Pacific; less numerous in the Atlantic. Rides boats' bows for long periods. Feeding: Lanternfish and squid taken at depth. Night predator. Range: Tropical waters, often near shore where water is deep. St. Vincent

21 Clymene Dolphin • Striped Dolphin

and the Grenadines, Dominica. Breeding: Sexual maturity at 10 years in males and seven in females Gestation of approximately ten and a half months. Calves nurse for at least seven months. Status: Insufficiently known.

Clymene Dolphin Stenella clymene (Gray, 1846)

Other names: Short-snouted Spinner Dolphin, Helmet Dolphin Physical description: Small, about six feet. Dorsal fin six inches tall and slightly falcate, dark grey. Body dark grey to black above becoming paler below; cape reaches a point under the dorsal fin lower on the flanks than in spinner dolphin. Beak tip black. Beak, flippers shorter and body stockier than spinner dolphin from which it was separated as a species only in 1981. Faint eye-to-flipper line in this species is wider near the flipper than near the eye. Look for the grey stripe from blowhole forward to melon's base. Behaviour: Sometimes spins as it leaps, though not as high or expertly as spinner dolphin. Groups larger than 10 unusual. Feeding: Little is known of this species' diet, though some evidence supports night-feeding for squid and small fish species. Range: Mainly tropical Atlantic Ocean in deep waters, reaching 40 degrees north off the east coast of the USA. Breeding: Little is known of this species' reproduction, though similaritiesto spinner dolphin are to be expected. Status: Insufficiently known. Threat posed by small Caribbean fisheries.

Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833)

Other names: Euphrosyne Dolphin, Streaker Physical description: Six to seven and a half feet in length, in some instances eight and a half feet. Larger than spinner dolphin, smaller than species. Body sleek with strong, relatively short beak, pronounced melon, and tall, rounded dorsal fin. Pale grey flanks and white underside with split dark grey stripes from eye to undertail and from eye to flipper (which may be split in two in some animals). Dark blue-grey to brown-grey colour of dorsal body forms cape. Beak, pointed flippers and eye-patch dark. Pale but clear grey shoulder blaze towards dorsal surface

22 Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

from lower flank is obvious in an close-up. Behaviour: Acrobatic and wil usually ride the boat's bow. Great herds occur in the Pacific though such are less likely to be seen in this region. Mixed, adult and juvenile schools are recognised. Seen with common dolphins in mixed groups on occasion, when latter appear slightly smaller. Deep diving animal, underwater for several-minute periods. Feeding: Fish, squid and shrimp in mid-water depths. Range: Mainly pelagic in tropical and warm oceans. Sightings from St. Vincent and Jamaica. Migratory to higher latitudes in summer months. Breeding: Sexual maturity reached at five to nine years. Gestation is about 12 months. Calves like adults in pattern and approximately three feet, nurse for about one-and-a-half years. Some populations herd up into breeding groups at different times of the year with juveniles in separate herds. May live beyond 50 years. Status: Insufficiently known. Suffers from large-scale drive-fishery in Japanese waters. Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Stenella attenuata (Gray, 1846)

Other names: Spotter, Bridled Dolphin, Delfin Machado (Latin America) Physical description: Two forms recognised. Offshore form less spotted and smaller than neritic form. Similar in structure to D. delphis or S. coeruleoalba—contrast S. frontalis. Dark demarcated beak; whitish lips. Slate grey back, forming dark cape with grey flanks and pale grey belly giving a two-tone impression in adult form. Compared to Atlantic spotter, spots same above but less obvious below, also paler on lower flanks. Some show blaze reaching to the dorsal ridge, behind the curved fin. Dark line from beak top to eye; second dark line from beak base to dark flipper, hence 'bridled dolphin'. Slight keel in adults. Young are unspotted, later developing spots on the belly and then light spots on the back. Beware classifying these as young bottlenose dolphins, which are stouter with shorter beaks. Behaviour: Does bow-ride; acrobatic, breaching and porpoising near boats, generally in large schools. Feeding: Fish and squid taken in surface waters. Range: Tropical and subtropical oceans, usually offshore in this region. Some seasonal onshore movement in certain populations noted. The

23

offshore form occurs in this region. Around the West Indies, this species is sighted less frequently than S. frontalis, but has been reported off Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Breeding: Gestation is approximately Hand a half months. Males mature from six to 15 years, females at five to Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 12. Segregation by sex, age and reproductive status is re corded. Status: Insufficiently known. Remarks: Known to suffer predation by Feresa, Pep- onocephala and probably Orcinus whales. Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Stenella frontalis (G. Cuvier, 1829)

Other names: Spotter, Gulf Stream Spotted Dolphin Physical description: To eight feet in length. Darker grey-brown base colour than S. attenuata and faint line from beak top through eye to flipper not usually visible. Spots on upper body pale or even absent in adults. Stouter than pantropical spotted dolphin with more obvious dark spotting on lower body. Small white ventral patch. In adults, spinal blaze from lower flank towards dorsal fin is lighter than base colour and meets dark dorsal cape, which extends to further down tailstock than in pantropical spotter. Cape at head paler with age. Pale demarcated beak; plain face. Dorsal fin resembles that of , falcate and pointed. Spinal blaze and spots together distinguish from bottlenose dolphin, which can show some spotting, but not in the range covered in this guide. Young S. frontalis are pale grey-brown above, white below and unspotted. Compare bottlenose dolphin, which is stockier with shorter beak. Behaviour: Will approach boats and ride wake and bow-wave; known to swim with divers regularly. May behave differently in waters off St. Vincent since some are still hunted there. Feeding: Squid and fish. Range: Tropical Atlantic seas, occasionally inshore, especially in spring and summer when they may mix with bottlenose dolphins. Their offshore distribution is poorly known. Groups more than a dozen strong are unusual in Antiguan and Barbudan waters. Breeding: Little is known of its breeding, save that calves are approximately two and a half feet long.

24 • Bottlenose Dolphin

Status: Insufficiently known. Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis (Linnaeus, 1758) Other names: Saddleback, Crisscross Dolphin Physical description: Body slender, six and a half up to eight feet long. Take care to distinguish from clymene and striped dolphins. Look for complex criss-cross flank lines forming 'hourglass' pattern, posteriorly grey-white and anteriorly light brown or yellow-brown. Dark grey to black on dorsal surface. Saddle marking comes from dark cape below dorsal fin being demarcated in a spread 'V by flank lines. Dark lines from flipper to middle of lower jaw; from dark eye-patch to above gape. Falcate and pointed dorsal fin tall and dark with lighter centre. Pointed flippers and concave tail. Beak attenuated, black with white tip. Males sometimes show ventral keel. Squid sucker marks often found on chin/lower jaw. Behaviour: Social cohesion in this species is marked with schools of over 1,000 animals still reported. Numbers in this region may reach 20 to 100. Bow-rides and wake-rides habitually, perhaps because of the age-old habit of riding the pressure wave of baleen whales. Feeding: Fish and squid, primarily at night when prey rises with the planktonic DSL. May dive up to 1,000 feet and for up to eight minutes. Range: Temperate and tropical seas with an estimated NW Atlantic population of 17,000 animals. Usually seaward of the 100-fathomline. Breeding: Sexually mature at perhaps six years. Gestation is to 11 months with calves born at two-and-a-half feet in length. They nurse for four months and adult females reproduce less than once every 12 months. Some evidence for nursery care of young by nursing and pregnant adult females. Status: Insufficiently known. Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) Other names: Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin, Delfin Nariz de Botella (Latin America) Physical description: Large and robust, up to 13 feet. Uniformly mid- to dark-grey dorsally becoming lighter ventrally. In this guide's region, animals can display a blaze towards dorsal surface across flank. Strong head with stubby beak demarcated at melon's base by strong crease. Tall dorsal fin is

25 Bottlenose Dolphin

broad-based and centrally positioned. Flippers moderate in size and falcate; mouth line upturned giving smiling appearance. Slightly darker lines than base colour from eye to flipper and from eye across melon's base. Behaviour: Complex societal structure is not fully understood, though certain populations have been well researched. Can see well in air and does spy-hop; breaches, rolls, tail-lobs etc. (see Figs. 4-6, 11). Will bow-ride readily. Known to surf in breakers and to have well-developed sonar. It is often used as an exhibit by oceanaria, where it has become known to many people worldwide. Feeding: Fish, squid, molluscs. Dives often only three to four minutes in duration. Seen with squid-eating G. macrorhynchus and P. crassidens, suggesting possible cooperative hunting. Observed to hunt cooperatively among themselves. Known to strand intentionally in order to catch fish corralled and forced to shore, though this appears to be infrequent. Opportunist, will take scraps from fishing boats' dumped offal on occasion. Differents groups adopt different techniques. Experiments with captive dolphins are in progress to demonstrate conclusively Odontoceti ability to stun prey with sound. Range: Worldwide in temperate and tropical waters; some populations resident, others migratory, depending on food supply. Inshore and offshore forms described, which may yet be assigned subspecific status. Inshore form replaces S. frontalis in shallow coastal waters in this region; also segregation based on age and sex has been studied in this form. Seen in groups of two to 18 from averages based on recent studies. Those groups will be segregated by age and sex into subgroups. Breeding: Females reach sexual maturity at five to 12 years, males at 10 to 12. Gestation is 12 months with calves born at four feet nursing for up to 18 months. Nursery function of adults observed as they care for young of foraging females. Status: Insufficiently known. May face death at the hands of local fishermen in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Remarks: Cetologists have found new traits in behaviour and morphology in certain populations, eg. that in the Sea of Cortez, which support a possible splitting into subspecies. See Range.

NOTE: The characteristics described in the behaviour and feeding sections are derived from observations worldwide. The author welcomes notes on traits exhibited in Caribbean animals.

26 PART II: A Site Guide for the Bahamas and Antilles

The areas included in this guide are no doubt just some of the places to view cetaceans, and others will be added in the future, especially if whale-watching grows in popularity as expected. The islands are dealt with from north to south.

BAHAMAS Offshore swimming with Atlantic spotted dolphins is offered by the specialist, Innerspace Visions, Contact them at 6800 SW 40th Street, Suite #499, Miami, FL 33255, USA, tel. (305) 669-0118 or fax. (305) 669-9936. They have a reliable secret site where they encounter the dolphins. Other organisations offer similar trips starting from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, including Wild Dolphin Project, 21 Hepburn Ave. Suite #20, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA, tel. (407) 575-5660 or fax. (407) 575-5681 and the Dream Team Inc. PO Box 033271, Indialantic, FL 32903-0271, tel. (407) 723-9312 or (800)741-5335. Earthwatch offers whale-watching study trips out of Hope Town, Elbow Cay. Contact them at Dept. W, Belsyre Court, 57 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HU, England, tel. (0865) 311600. Oceanic Society Expeditions offer trips here. Contact them at Fort Mason Center, Building E, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA, tel. (415)441-1106. On Grand Bahama, to the north of the chain, The Dolphin Experience features an acoustic workshop and swimming with dolphins. They do not conduct whale/dolphin watching tours.

TURKS & CAICOS Into the Blue has sought to release wild bottlenose dolphins back to the wild from British dolphinaria. These are seen with other dolphins around the coast from time to time. The project has met with some approval and success, and diver volunteers are needed occasionally to help in the work. Contact them at PRIDE in the islands or Zoo Check, c/o The Born Free Foundation, Coldharbour, Dorking RH5 6HA, England. In November and December, humpbacks migrate through the deep Turks Island Passage on their way south to the Silver Bank breeding ground and can sometimes be seen from the air on flights between Grand Turk and South Caicos.

27 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Samana Bay and Peninsula From late January to early March, humpback whales can be observed at the mouth of Samana Bay, in the country's north-east. It is possible to see whales from the shore at Punta Balandra, nine miles east of town on the peninsular road. Ask for directions to the old lighthouse, the track to which is to the right off the road beyond the small school. Be sure to seek permission from the house owner through whose grounds the path runs. Some organised excursions are available including from Hotel Gran Bahia on the hotel's power vessel. Arrangements to go whale-watching can be made at Samana town harbour on Malecon. There are three companies offering daily three-hour trips in season: Transporte Maritimo Minadiel, Cruceros Nauticos (based in Las Terranas on the peninsular's north coast) and Victoria Marina, The whale-watching area is only 45 minutes away by boat. The trip costs US$25 per person. Alternatively, you may take a publico or moto-concho to Los Cacaos, five miles overland from Malecon. A boat trip to see whales can be arranged with Simi Baez and Transportes Associados de Caleton, companies involved with fishing and tours. They use smaller boats than the operators in town. A small tariff is charged in the ticket price on each visitor, which is put to a Tourist Department fund. A portion of the tariff will go to local conservation initiatives. Samana Bay is in the process of being designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which should help protect its natural resources, including humpback whales, Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins. Silver Bank Since 1986, Silver Bank or Banco de la Plata has been a marine sanctuary for humpbacks and other sealife. It is located 50 miles north of Cabrera on the north coast and forms a 100-foot deep lagoon, which attracts humpbacks for mating and calving in the months of December to early March. Occasional trips made by scientists are organised by CIBIMA (Centro de Investigaciones de Biologia Marina) at the University of Santo Domingo, tel. (809) 685-6682, or CEBSE (Centro para la Conservacion y Ecodesarrollo de la Bahia de Samana y su entorno), tel. (809) 533-3745 or fax. (809) 686-6629 or 538-2545. Departamento de Eco-Turismo, Parque Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Av. George Washington, Santo Domingo, may also have some information on trips, but National Parks profess to know little. Animal Watch offers excursions from Great Britain. Contact them at

28 Granville House, London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1DL, England, tel. (0732)741612. Oceanic Society Expeditions also offer occasional trips from the USA. See notes on Bahamas for address and telephone. Navidad Bank Approximately 60 miles NNE of Samana, humpbacks breed in a lagoon area similar to the Silver Bank. Sea conditions are usually rough and little opportunity for viewing arises.

PUERTO RICO The Caribbean Stranding Network is based in Puerto Rico. Antonio Mignucci Giannoni, a local marine biologist, is the Network's scientific coordinator who can assist with information on cetacean sightings and strandings. Contact him c/o Laboratories Marinos de Isla Magueyes, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Apartado 908, Lajas, PR, tel. (809) 899-2048 or fax. (809) 899-5500. Rincon Going north from Mayaguez and south from Aguadilla on the west coast, you come to Rincon, where humpbacks visit from December to February. Rincon can be reached by publico on route 115 from both Mayaguez and Aguadilla. Try the lookout points at the Punta Higuera lighthouse north of town on route 413. Aquatica at Ramey in Aguadilla charter out fishing boats and may be worth contacting for whale-watch charters. Tel. (809) 890-6071. Mona Passage In the sea area east of the Dominican Republic and west of Puerto Rico, offshore from Rincon, humpbacks are found in the winter months.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS St. Thomas'St Croix February, March and up to mid-April are the months when you are most likely to see humpbacks near the islands. Occasional trips to see them are organised at the height of the season by Environmental Association of St.Thomas-St.John (EAST). Contact them at PO Box 12379, St. Thomas USVI 00801. Diving trips offshore also offer a chance to view cetaceans. Oceanic Society Expeditions have organised whale-watching trips here in the past few years. See notes on Bahamas for address and telephone.

29 BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Tortola Fly BVI Limited, Beef Island Airport Box 3347, Road Town, Tortola. teL (284) 495-1747, offers general sight-seeing tours and would include whale watching at the request of the client. Paul Knapp, Jr., tel. (284) 499-5111, runs whale listening trips from January ,o March out of Brewers Bay. Trips are available at no charge, but donations are accepted. Email to: pkco^®yahoo.com. .Also, there is a web site at www.listeningtnwhales.com.

ANGUILLA Beyond the reefs off the north-west and west coasts in March/April and September/October humpback and occasional sperm whales can be seen on their migratory journeys. Anguillan Divers Ltd of Island Harbour see dolphins between base and Scrub Island during diving trips. They encounter whales only infrequently. Contact Tom Ward or his son, Tom Jr, at (809) 497-4750.

ST. BARTS Anse de Flamands Rocky Islets, fie Bonhommeor Chevreau and lie Fregate, off this part of the north coast are places past which sperm whales migrate in May. These are bulls on their way to North Atlantic feeding grounds after the winter mating period. To the west of Gustavia lie the islands of Les Trois Saintes. Dolphin species are seen by divers on trips to reefs in this area.

NETHERLAND ANTILLES (N.A.) Saba From February to mid-April, occasional sightings of whales—humpbacks mostly—are made as they pass by on their migration, whilst in winter small herds of dolphins accompany dive boats infrequently. Try Sea Saba, tel. (011) 599 462246, ask for Lynne or John for information on trips.

30 ST. KITTS & NEVIS The sound between the two islands is crossed several times daily by a ferry to and from the waterfront. Cetaceans have been sighted in these waters. Bottlenose dolphins can be seen on dive trips around the coast. A commanding view of the lee coast waters can be gained at a lay-by about halfway down the south-east peninsula road.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

Shirley Heights/Indian Creek (Antigua) The heights of the Blockhouse Hill and Shirley Heights in the south of the island are a good place to look for travelling humpbacks in the early months of the year as well as bottlenose dolphins inshore near the mouth of Indian Creek. In offshore waters to the east, the chance of seeing short-finned pilot whales is reasonable; whilst Atlantic spotted dolphins can also be seen off both east and west shores, sometimes closer in. Minke whales are seen pelagically during the winter. Humpbacks—mostlytravelling—are seen frequently in the months from January to early April. West Coast of Barbuda Inshore near the west coast during the winter months, especially February to April, it is possible to see humpback whales, sometimes mothers with calves in the shallows. The animals are best looked for from the air on charter flights or inter-island flights to and from Antigua, though a boat trip may prove fruitful. Contact LIAT on (809) 462-3142/3 or Carib Aviation on (809)462-3147/3452. South-East Coast of Barbuda The south-east coast area north of Spanish Point is worth watching for Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins fairly close to shore.

MONTSERRAT Humpback and occasional sperm whales pass by the west coast in early spring on their way north to feeding grounds.

DOMINICA You will likely have to make more than one trip offshore from the west coast near to get the best out of this region. It is possible to see sperm whales year-round, although the most productive trips are during December

31 to March, when sperm whale bulls are present. Humpbacks in the winter and oceanic dolphins can also be encountered. This stretch of water is relatively sheltered and conditions for watching are often good, whilst observation from land is possible from Scott's Head in the extreme south-west of the island. A bus from Roseau will take you there in about 30 minutes. Offshore trips are organised by Anchorage Dive Centre in Castle Comfort to the south of Roseau most weekend afternoons between October and May. A three-hour trip will cost US$50 per person; minimum of three people. Contact Andrew or Fitzroy Armour, P.O. Box 34, Roseau, Dominica, tel. (809) 44-82638/9 or fax. (809) 44-85680 for up-to-date information. Dive Dominica Limited of Castle Comfort Lodge will organise a charter as requested. Tel. (809) 448-2188 or fax. (809) 448-6088. Seafarers Expeditions and Oceanic Society Expeditions conducted specialist trips from the USA during 1990 and 1991. Whale Watch Azores is also planning to offer day trips in this area during winter 1994/95 through a local operator. Contact them at Manor Farm, South Hinksey, Oxford OX1 5AS, England, tel. (44) 865 327370.

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES St. Vincent Though no scheduled boat trips are available to see them, humpbacks winter off St. Vincent and the Grenadines in numbers second only to those in Dominican Republic waters. Looking for whales in season from headlands or at sea from private yachts will no doubt produce results. Oceanic dolphin species are present in deep waters where they are caught deliberately and incidentally by fishermen, especially west and north of Barrouallieon the main island's leeward coast. Look for these animals at all times of year. Hal Daize, tel. (809) 458-4969 offers daytrips year round from Indian Bay or Villa near to the Falls of Baleine, during which he encounters groups of up to seven dolphin species. Trips are US$25 per person, minimum of 3 persons. He will charter specifically to watch cetaceans. February to April are best for humpbacks; July to October for 'blackfish,' i.e. the short-finned pilot whale. Bequia The hour-long boat trip between Kingstown and Port Elizabeth, Bequia may occasionally produce sightings of cetaceans. The ferries cross both ways

32 twice daily, morning and afternoon. Subsistence humpback whaling from Petit Nevis Isle (south of Bequia) still occurs in winter. Humpbacks are seen in the shallow waters between Bequia and Mustique most frequently.

CURACAO (N.A.) TO ISLA MARGARITA (VENEZUELA) Some work on Bryde's and humpback whales has been done which would suggest that the Caribbean Sea off Venezuela and Colombia are productive not only for whales in season (see these two species accounts), but also for pelagic dolphins. Oceanic Society Expeditions started tours off the eastern Venezuelan coast in Spring 1994. Address and telephone above.

The only other operator known that offers whale-watching trips within the West Indies is:

Smithsonian Associates Travel Program The Smithsonian Institution Dept. 0049, Washington, DC 20073, USA tel. (202) 357-4700

NOTE: The author has sought to check all tour operators through direct contact and indirect communication with NGOs, tourist boards and so on. If your organisation has been omitted, please write with details to Nathan Gricks, c/o HAS, P.O. Box 103, St. John's, Antigua, West Indies. A revised edition will include you.

33 Annotated Bibliography

Berzin, A.A. and Vladimirov, V.L. A New Species of Killer Whale (, Delphinidae) from the Antarctic Waters.' Zoologicheskii Zhurnal, 62 (1983): 287-295. Best, P.B. Status of Bryde's Whales (Balaenoptera edeni). F.A.O.-A.C.M.R.R.,1975.

Corrigan, P. Where the Whales Are: Your Guide to Whale-watching Trips in North America. Connecticut: The Globe Pequot Press, 1991. Though scant of information on North American species and not covering the Caribbean sites, this paperback gives a good introduction to would-be whale-watchers. Anyone taking an interest in the hobby will be obliged sooner or later to go stateside, so buying this volume will be money well spent.

Cousteau, J.Y. Jacques Cousteau—Whales. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1986. This is a coffee table book, which looks at the baleen whales as well as the sperm whale. It is full of information relating to whales and not just field marks. Excellent colour photographs.

Hoyt, E. The Whale Watcher's Handbook. Toronto: Penguin, 1984. This made a significant contribution to the whole craze of whale- watching and remains an authoritative tome—with identification and site information—for those wishing to pursue this pastime. It has a small section on the Caribbean. Portable, too. Buy one if you can find a supplier. Try conservation bodies or specialist bookstores as it is now out of print.

Klinowska, M Dolphins, and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. Cambridge: IUCN, 1991. The bible for whale conservationists, this book identifies risks and possible solutions to problems facing cetaceans. Each species is assigned a conservation status rating, which is regularly revised in the light of new research. It has a very full range section for each species covered. It is not an identification guide. Maps.

Leatherwood, S.; Caldwell, D.K.; and Winn, HE. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic: A Guide to Their Identification. National Oceanographic and Aeronautic Administration, 1976. Out of print, but useful for this region. Good black and white photographs and clear identification information contrast one species with another.

34 Leatherwood, S. and Reeves, R.R. The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1983. This paperback is pocket-sized, but a mine of useful identification information. Certain taxonomic questions have been answered since the book's publication, but it remains the best book to use at sea.

Leatherwood, S., Reeves R.R., Perrin W.F.,and Evans, W.E. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Eastern North Pacific and Adjacent Arctic Waters: A Guide to Their Identification. New York: Dover Publications, 1988. This duplicates for Pacific species that information contained in the 1976 volume mentioned above, but has none relating to some species such as the Atlantic spotted dolphin and clymene dolphin. It is nonetheless very useful for its monochrome photographs of species occurring in both oceans. Still in print.

Martin, Dr. A. R. et al. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Whales and Dolphins. London: Salamander Books, 1990. This is produced from the work of many experts and has copious identification details. Cumbersome for boat use, but with colour photographs throughout. Porter, J. 'Pseudorca Stranding.' Oceans (1977) 10: 8-15.

Watson, L. Whales of the World. London: Century Hutchinson, 1981. The author gives a personal insight into the behaviour of many species, some of which few scientists have seen. As a result, this book, which might sit on a boat's bookshelf, is extrememly helpful. Beware some outdated taxonomic details. Few photographs; numerous illustrations.

35 Appendix A RECORD CARD

(Please submit to: HAS, PO Box 103, St. John's, Antigua, West Indies)

Name: Mailing address:

Other observers' names: Name of vessel & port:_ Date: Time: Position (inclu. latitude and longitude): Weather conditions: State of sea: Water depth & temperature: Height of observer above water: Species observed: Circle one: Possible Probable Definite Identification of Species

Specify the number; direction of travel; distance from observer; behaviour, any unusual behaviour; seabirds, turtles or fish etc. in association; duration of time observed; and notes on surfacing pattern.

Were any photos taken? Yes No Description*:

*Note shape of head: size of animal: dorsal fin shape, size and position; body pattern, colours and markings. In whales, note the shape and size of the blow. If possible, observers should take a photo or draw a sketch of the animal(s) and submit a copy for the records.

36 Appendix B EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN WHALE-WATCHING

Binoculars. For shore work, 10x magnification is suitable; but for sea use, 7x or 8x magnification is better since the ability to keep the binoculars steady is hampered by the movement of the boat. Buy the best you can afford since your enjoyment will be that much enhanced. (Zeiss and Leica brands from Germany are recommended; whilst Bushnell make sets specifically for spectacle wearers.) Those who can afford to buy gyroscopi- cally controlled instruments should do so! A spotting scope is useful only for shore work and a 22x wide angle lens ideal. You should thus look for a model that accepts interchangeable lenses (eg. Bushnell Spacemaster design). Camera. Clearly, a camera also would be useful. Autofocus SLR models are widely available and reasonably priced. Again, buy the best you can afford. A wide range of lenses is desirable, but a zoom of 75/100 to 300 mm is very attractive, especially one with a reasonable aperture, say f4 to f5.6. It is advisable to purchase a waterproof bag or housing to protect equipment that is not waterproof. Slide film can be more useful than print since prints can be taken from the slide transparencies if required. Remember to use a fast shutter speed to freeze detail. Clothing. This is very subjective. Suffice to say that a day at sea in the tropics is a chance to get sunburnt, so take precautions. Pockets for spare film are a must. Notebook. A notebook and/or mini-recorder are very useful items for recording data for later entry into the record sheets and should be carried. Hydrophone. For those with the opportunity, using a hydrophone from the boat can be rewarding. Such a piece of equipment, which can only be purchased at specialist shops, together with a compatible recorder can be used to find whales (eg. sperms) or listen to them (eg. humpback males). Guide/Handbook. Refer to the Annotated Bibliography on pp. 34-35.

37 Appendix C FIRST AID FOR STRANDED CETACEANS

It will usually be the case that a live stranded cetacean is either physically injured or suffering the effects of pollution, both of which may adversely affect its ability to swim and/or navigate. However, this is not always so and certain species are known to strand commonly—either singly such as the pygmy sperm whale or in groups such as the false killer whale, long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) and short-finned pilot whale. There is speculation that mass strandings occur because, among other reasons, animals are either going to the assistance of another in trouble or navigating by magnetic lines in the ocean bed, which suddenly and unexpectedly run perpendicular to the shore. The task of saving a stranded cetacean is a long and arduous one in many cases. Anyone coming across an animal that can be returned to the sea easily should try to do so. Ensure the animal is kept upright and its blowhole(s) clear. You may have to pack sand along the animal's body at ground level. Do not touch the eyes. Where tides rise and fall little, there is less need to consider the tide's state, but rough swells may prevent an immediate return to the sea. Several attempts at re-floating are sometimes needed; lifting the whole animal may not be possible, in which case the base of the dorsal fin is the least vulnerable point by which to push it to the sea. Do not pull on the tail unnecessarily. Do not pull on the flippers at all. If the animal is small, try to use a sling to support it in carrying. It is suggested that if no return to the sea is possible then the animal will soon die, due to the weight of its unsupported mass crushing internal organs. Assistance from a veterinarian is advised, if possible. Specialist help from experts is called for in many cases. However, the only stranding network in the region is based in Puerto Rico and may not be able to assist speedily. Contact Antonio Mignucci Giannoni of the Caribbean Stranding Network in Puerto Rico (see p. 29) for more details. Volunteer helpers should be found; in the case of a mass stranding, they will be indispensable. The main aid which you might administer is to pour water over the animal to keep it cool, being careful not to block or fill the blowhole(s). Moist cloths laid on the whale or dolphin will aid the cooling process if it is sunny. Keep the flippers free, ensuring they are not under the body or trapped. In any case, take a photo of the animal and/or sketch with some measurements, if possible. This information will be useful if submitted with the record card to HAS and may assist in the long-term goal of eliminating these unfortunate occurrences.

38 c 3

go XJ c (D

O cr o r- CD CQc s O co T) to oCD c to CO XJ > 3 (D 1. en eg s

I=3 3 T3 m Figure 9. Pec-raising Figure 10. Head-standing

Figure 11. Barrel-rolling

Terms Used in this Guide

Benthic - bottom dwelling Cephalopod - member of the most highly organised class of molluscs with long tentacles surrounding the mouth, a sharp beak and two large eyes, including squids and cuttlefish Copepod- crustacean Crustacean - member of Crustacea, a class of arthropods with a hard shell, jointed body and appendages, and gills for breathing; including crabs, lobsters, shrimps etc. Euphausild - shrimp-like crustacean Krlll - shrimp-like crustacean Phytoplankton- microscopic plant life or algae - seal or sea lion Sirenian - manatee or sea cow Zooplankton-crustacean forming light-sensitive deep-scattering layer

40 90°

*\,mn

**"-* .- |n -■•■■ Caribbean Sea % »■ ".,.- §M II I I \

IIVKKAtMlN

-\ •*& \™_ SSj Map t>y K a I h e r i n e Turnei Taxonomic Outline of Whales and Order:

Suborder: Mysticeti BALEEN WHALES Family: Balaenoptera Rorqual whales A. Subfamily: Balaenoptehnae Genus: Balaenoptera Species: Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Minke whale Balaenoptera borealis Sei whale Balaenoptera edeni Bryde's whale B. Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Species: Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback whale Suborder: Odontoceti TOOTHED WHALES A. Family: Ziphiidae Beaked whales Genus: Ziphius Species: Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier's beaked whale Genus: Mesoplodon Species: Mesoplodon europaeus Gervais' beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris Blainville's beaked whale B. Family: Physeteridae Sperm whales Genus: Physeter Species: Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale Genus: Kogia Species: Kogia breviceps Pygmy sperm whale Kogia simus Dwarf sperm whale C. Family: Delphinidae Oceanic dolphins Genus: Steno Species: Steno bredanensis Rough-toothed dolphin Genus: Globicephala Species: Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-finned pilot whale Dolphins Found in the West Indies Cetacea

Genus: Orcinus Species: Orcinus orca Killer whale Genus: Pseudorca Species: Pseudorca crassidens False killer whale Genus: Feresa Species: Feresa attenuata Pygmy killer whale Genus: Peponocephala Species: Peponocephala electra Melon-headed whale Genus: Lagenodelphis Species: Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser's dolphin Genus: Grampus Species: Grampus griseus Risso's dolphin Genus: Stenella Species: Stenella longirostris Spinner dolphin Stenella clymene Clymene dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba Striped dolphin Stenella attenuata Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin Genus: Delphinus Species: Delphinus delphis Common dolphin Genus: Tursiops Species: Tursiops truncatus Bottlenose dolphin Available From:

Island Resources Foundation 1718 P Street NW, Suite T-4 Washington, DC 20036, USA Tel. (202)265-9712 Fax. (202)232-0748

Cost per copy US$12.50 includes postage and packing. Enquire about discounts for bulk orders (20 or more copies). Orders must be prepaid.