Cetaceans (Whales and Dolphins)

Pilot Whales are actually dolphins and are distinguished by nearly black skin, bulbous-shaped head, and large-based dorsal fin that is set relatively far forward.

There are two species of pilot whales: Short-finned and Long-finned. They can be very difficult to distinguish at sea, unless you get a good look at the pectoral fins of an individual that rolls on its side, and even then there is some overlap in size between the two species. Both species occur in North Carolina waters, but Short-finneds are more common.

Some pilot whales show a lighter-colored saddle behind the dorsal fin.

Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus)

Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus)

Offshore Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Offshore Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Locally common offshore in NC in winter, these dolphins sometimes form herds in the hundreds.

Note the hourglass pattern along the sides.

Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli)

Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli)

These large whales have square heads that make up 1/3 of their whole body. Sperm Whales can be nearly 70 feet long and weigh over 100,000 pounds!

Sperm Whales can be nearly 70 feet long and weigh over 100,000 pounds!

Sperm Whales lack dorsal fins but have a little hump in the middle of their backs.

With only a single blowhole, Sperm Whale blows in windless conditions are very distinctively ice cream cone shaped and angled to the left. Note that this picture was taken in windy conditions.

There were 7-8 whales in this pod. Three are visible in this photo (with a Wilson's Storm-Petrel on the upper left), and four are visible in the photo above (two under water, and two breaking the surface).

You can just see the mouth of this young whale.

I think this is the side of a fluke (tail fin), or possibly the whale rolled and this is a pectoral fin. Anyone know for sure?

This Sperm Whale breached several times several hundred yards away. I wish the photo were in better focus!