Photo Identification of Whales

Justin Clarke

What is Photo Identification

• First began in 1960’s and 70’s.– 35mm slide film or high resolution black and

white.– Programs evaluated negatives to find matches.

• Photographs taken of dorsal fin and tail flukes– Each individual is unique– Niches, tears, coloration patterns.

How is it Beneficial?

• A safe way to study whales– Non-Invasive

• Catalogs can be created identifying individuals.– Helps study migration, feeding patterns, life

history, and population estimates.– Names are based on unique characteristics– “Family trees” can be created.

Stellwagen Banks Photo-Identification

• Humpback Whale– Black and white pigmentation and scars on tail flukes– Rounded– Scalloping

• Fin Whale– Slightly concaved bottom edge– Distinctive notch– Sickle shaped dorsal fin

• Minke Whale– Very small dorsal fin– Curved dorsal fin– Doesn’t show dorsal fin when diving

• Northern Right Whale– Large Broad Flukes– Symmetrical– Distinctive Notch

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_peF4r8eKk

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UTiWr_HD0o

ANY QUESTIONS?

Works Cited• http://www.whaleresearch.org/projects/humpback_researchmethods.php• http://www.northatlantickillerwhales.com/index.asp?pageid=100041• http://marinelife.about.com/od/watchingandphotography/a/photoid.htm• http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/sister/pdfs/sbnms_fs_id_2011_1.pdf• http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/nmml/pdf/NMMLDigitalPhotoProtocol.pdf• http://www.whalewatchingtravelguide.com/whale-tail.html• http://wildwhales.org/minke-whale/