marine wildlife id guide - pacific biodiversity institute€¦ · identification guide 2016 page 1:...
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HarborPorpoiseProjectMarineWildlife
IdentificationGuide2016
Page1:HarborPorpoise
Page2-5:OtherMammalsintheMarineEnvironment2. HarborSeal2. RiverOtter3. SeaLion4. Orca5. Lesscommonmammals
Page6-9:Birds6. Raptors7.Duck-LikeBirds8.Gull-LikeBirds9.Shorebirds
HarborPorpoisePhocoenaphocoena
Behavior
General:Quietandshy.Normallytravelsingroupsof6orfewer,orsolitary.Remainslowinthewaterwhensurfacing.Avoidsvesseltraffic.Spendsalmostallitstimeeitherforagingorsearchingforaplacetoforage.Foraging:Surfacesrepeatedlyinthesamegeneralarea.Oftenaccompaniedbyotheranimalslikeseabirds,seals.Traveling:Surfacesseveraltimesinquicksuccessioninamoreorlessstraightline,oftenfollowedbyalongerdive.Socializing:Twoormoreharborporpoisestouchingorrubbingtheirbodiestogether.Mayslaptailsonthewater.
BasicFacts
Size:4½-5½feetlong,100-150poundsColoration:Darkgraytobrownontop,palegraytowhiteonbelly.Markings,ifany,areinconspicuous.Features:Small,triangulardorsalfinwithslightlylongerleadingedge.Bluntfacewithoutdistinctbeak.Diet:Foragefish(e.g.herring,smelt),smallsquidHabitat:Mainlyfoundinshallowcoastalwater,<330feetdeep,throughouttheNorthernHemisphere.Localpopulationpreferscooltemperatures(52-54ºF)andfasttidalcurrents.
Harborporpoiseswillsometimesmakeasplashwhenforagingorsocializing.
Mother-calfpairsareidentifiedbythepresenceofasmallerindividualswimmingbehindanadult,surfacingsynchronouslywithher.
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HarborSealPhocavitulina
NorthAmericanRiverOtterLontracanadensis
BasicFacts
Size:4-6feetlong,upto310poundsColoration:Graywithdarkspotsordarkwithgrayspots.Features:Roundedbodywithsmallflippers.Large,front-facingeyes.Roundheadwithnoexternalearflaps.Diet:Fish,mollusks,crustaceansHabitat:Nearshore;coastsandestuariesinNorthAmerica,NorthernEurope,EastAsia.Behavior:Oftenseenrestingatthesurfaceofthewaterorhauledoutonrocks,beaches,etc.Typicallysolitaryinthewater,gregariousonshore.
BasicFacts
Size:2-3½feetlong,11-31poundsColoration:Darkbrownwithlighterfuronfaceandbelly.Features:Long,slenderbodywithpowerfultail.Small,roundears.Diet:Fish,mollusks,crustaceans,echinoderms.Habitat:FreshandmarinewaterwaysandshorelinesinNorthAmerica.Behavior:Swimsbelly-downwithheadabovewater.Oftenseeningroups.Semiaquatic;establishesburrowsonlandnearwater.
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CaliforniaSeaLionZalaphuscalifornianus
StellerSeaLionEumetopiasjubatus
BasicFacts
Size:malesto8½feetlong,1200pounds;femalesto6feetlong,250poundsColoration:Blondtobrown,malesdarkerthanfemalesFeatures:Smallexternalears.Maturemaleshavethickneckandcrestoffuronforehead.Dog-likebark.Diet:Fish,squid,mollusks.Habitat:WesternNorthAmerica,coastsandseamountsBehavior:Oftenswimwithnosepointingup,sometimesmouthopen.Verygregariousandhighlymobileonland.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_Sea_Lions_(Zalophus_californianus).jpg
BasicFacts
Size:malesto10½feetlong,2200pounds;femalesto8½feetlong,800poundsColoration:Lightblondtoauburnwithbrownflippers.Appearslight-coloredinthewater,notblack.Features:Smallexternalears.Maturemaleshaveruffatneck.Roaringvocalizations.Diet:Fish,squid.Habitat:NorthernNorthPacificcoasts,rockyshoresBehavior:Highlyvocalandterritorial.Colonialbreeders.Swimwithnosepointingupoutofwater.
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Orca(KillerWhale)Orcinusorca
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BasicFacts
Size:Malesto32feetlong,22,000pounds;femalesto28feetlong,16,500pounds.Coloration:Iconicblackandwhitecoloration;whitetograysaddlepatchbehinddorsalfin.Features:Maleswithtall,triangulardorsalfin;femaleswithshorter,hookedfin.Diet:Salmon,marinemammals,andsharks,dependingonecotype;seegraphicabove.Habitat:Worldwide,dependingonecotype;seegraphicaboveforNorthPacificecotypes.Behavior:Tight-knit,matrilinearpods.Fastandacrobaticswimmers.
Selectionfromposter,"KillerWhales:EcotypesandForms"(NOAA)
LessCommonMammals(Rarelyseenfromshore)
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HumpbackWhale(Megapteranovaeangliae)
MinkeWhale(Balaenopteraacutorostrata)GrayWhale(Eschrichtiusrobustus)
SeaOtter(Enhydralutris)
Dall'sPorpoise(Phocoenoidesdalli) PacificWhite-SidedDolphin(Lagenorhynchusobliquidens)
Birds-Raptors
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Osprey(Pandionhaliaetus)
BaldEagle(Haliaeetusleucocephalus)L,toR:adultplumage;immatureplumage;adultplumageinflight
Large,soaringbirds.Baldeaglesandospreysaretheonlynotablymarine-adaptedraptorspeciesintheSalishSearegion.Bothcatchfishbydivingtowardthewater.
Birds–Duck-Like
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Diversegroupofbirdsthatoftenfeedbyswimmingatthewater'ssurfaceanddiving.Includescormorants.
Cormorant(Phalacrocoraxspp.)
RhinocerosAuklet(Cerorhincamonocerata)
HarlequinDuck(Histrionicushistrionicus)
MarbledMurrelet(Brachyramphusmarmoratus)
CommonMurre(Uriaaalge)
PigeonGuillemot(Cepphuscolumba)
TuftedPuffin(Fraterculacirrhata)
Scoter(Melanittaspp.)
Birds–Gull-Like
ThemostcommonseabirdsintheSalishSea.Asidefromgulls,thiscategoryalsoincludesterns,shearwaters,andpelicans.
Brownpelican(Pelecanusoccidentalis)
Heermann'sGull(Larusheermanni)
Caspiantern(Hydroprognecaspia)
Glaucus-WingedGull(Larusglaucescens)
MewGull(Laruscanusbrachyrhynchus)
Ring-BilledGull(Larusdelawarensis)
CaliforniaGull(Laruscalifornicus) SootyShearwater
(Puffinusgriseus)
Birds–Shorebirds
GreatBlueHeron(Ardeaherodias)
BlackOystercatcher(Haematopusbachmani)
Surfbird(Aphriza virgata)
Long-BilledCurlew(Numeniusamericanus)
Shorebirdsincludeallspeciesthatwadeatthewater'sedgeorrunalongbeaches/shores.Notallthecommonspeciesareshownhere.
Killdeer(Charadriusvociferus)