Biodiversity

Friday, April 06, 2007

DESCRIPTIONS OF WHALES AND DOLPHINS

Balaena glacialis (Southern Right Whale)



http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Balaena+glacialis

Distribution Arctic and Sub Antarctica; or near the coast; or Southern hemisphere.
Conseravation status Depleted; or Endangered.
Teeth 0 number (if unknown leave blank).
Size 14–17 m.
Weight 54500 kg.
Echolocation absent.
Dorsal fin absent.
Throat grooves absent.
Colour dorsal black-blue.
Colour ventral pale black-blue.
Migration yes.
Diet copepods.
Breeding grounds South Africa.
Head contains wart-like collosities.
Distinctive characteristic none.
Snout arched.
Thoracic Vertebrae 14 number (if unknown leave blank).
Lumbar Vertebrae 12 number (if unknown leave blank).
Caudal Vertebrae 24 number (if unknown leave blank).
Pelvis vestigial.
Body robust.
Baleen plates present Yes.
Teeth present No.

Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback Whale)


http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Humpback+whale

Distribution World wide.
Conseravation status Depleted; or Endangered.
Teeth 0 number (if unknown leave blank).
Size 14–15 m.
Weight 35000 kg.
Echolocation absent.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves present.
Colour dorsal white.
Colour ventral white.
Migration yes.
Diet krill.
Breeding grounds Tropical and Subtropical.
Head small knobs on upper jaw.
Distinctive characteristic long, narrow flippers.
Snout unknown.
Thoracic Vertebrae 14 number (if unknown leave blank).
Lumbar Vertebrae 10 number (if unknown leave blank).
Caudal Vertebrae 22 number (if unknown leave blank).
Pelvis vestigial.
Body stocky.
Baleen plates present Yes.
Teeth present No.

Physeter macrocephalus (Sperm Whale)



http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Sperm+whale

Distribution World wide; or inshore.
Conseravation status Depleted; or Endangered.
Teeth 48 number (if unknown leave blank).
Size 15–18 m.
Weight 36000 kg.
Echolocation present.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal grey.
Colour ventral grey.
Migration unknown.
Diet squid; or octopus.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head contains spermaceti; or enormous, blunt.
Distinctive characteristic enormous, blunt head.
Snout unknown.
Thoracic Vertebrae 11 number (if unknown leave blank).
Lumbar Vertebrae 8 number (if unknown leave blank).
Caudal Vertebrae 24 number (if unknown leave blank).
Pelvis absent.
Body very large and prune-like.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.

Orcinus orca (Killer Whale)


http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Killer+whale

Distribution Arctic and Sub Antarctica; or Southern Africa.
Conseravation status Low risk.
Teeth 44 number (if unknown leave blank).
Size 7–9 m.
Weight 5000 kg.
Echolocation present.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal black.
Colour ventral white.
Migration yes.
Diet squid; or fish; or birds; or seals; or dolphins; or larger whales.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head oval , white patch behind eye.
Distinctive characteristic gey saddle behind dorsal fin.
Snout unknown.
Thoracic Vertebrae 12 number (if unknown leave blank).
Lumbar Vertebrae 10 number (if unknown leave blank).
Caudal Vertebrae 23 number (if unknown leave blank).
Pelvis absent.
Body torpedo shaped.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.

Delphinus delphis (Common Dolphin)


http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=common+dolphin

Distribution warm temperate waters; or near the coast.
Conseravation status Unknown.
Size 2.5 m.
Weight 160 kg.
Echolocation unknown.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal black; or pale-grey.
Colour ventral white.
Migration unknown.
Diet shoaling pelagic fish.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head long, narrow, pointed beak.
Distinctive characteristic criss-cross figure-of-eight pattern on the sides.
School size 1000–5000 number (if unknown leave blank).
Snout unknown.
Pelvis unknown.
Body torpedo shaped.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.

Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenosed dolphin)



http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=bottlenosed+dolphin

Distribution inshore; or near the coast; or Southern Africa.
Conseravation status Vulnerable; or Depleted.
Teeth 98 number (if unknown leave blank).
Size 2.6–3.3 m.
Weight 200 kg.
Echolocation present.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal grey; or dark-grey.
Colour ventral off-white speckled with grey spots.
Migration unknown.
Diet squid; or fish.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head bottle-shaped.
Distinctive characteristic darker grey "cape" on the back.
School size 20–50 number (if unknown leave blank).
Snout moderate length.
Thoracic Vertebrae 14 number (if unknown leave blank).
Lumbar Vertebrae 15 number (if unknown leave blank).
Caudal Vertebrae 29 number (if unknown leave blank).
Pelvis absent.
Body robust.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.

Cephalorhynchus heavisidii (Heaviside's Dolphin)




http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Heavisides+dolphin&btnG=Search+Images


Distribution near the coast; or Southern Africa.
Conseravation status Unknown.
Size 1.7 m.
Echolocation unknown.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal black.
Colour ventral white.
Migration unknown.
Diet fish.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head indistinct beak.
Distinctive characteristic white lobe pointing obliquely backwards towards the tail.
Snout rounded.
Pelvis unknown.
Body thick-set; or torpedo shaped.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.


Lagenorhynchus obscurus
(Dusky Dolphin)



http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Dusky+dolphin

Distribution near the coast; or Southern hemisphere.
Conseravation status Unknown.
Size 1.9 m.
Weight 115 kg.
Echolocation unknown.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal black; or dark-grey.
Colour ventral white; or pale grey-white.
Migration unknown.
Diet squid; or fish.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head very short, black-tipped beak.
Distinctive characteristic two-tone dorsal fin.
Snout rounded.
Pelvis unknown.
Body torpedo shaped.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.

Stenella coeruleoalba (Striped Dolphin)


http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Striped+dolphin

Distribution warm temperate waters; or near the coast.
Conseravation status Low risk.
Size 2.5 m.
Weight 150 kg.
Echolocation unknown.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal dark blue-grey.
Colour ventral white.
Migration unknown.
Diet squid; or fish.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head three distinct grey lines running from the eye.
Distinctive characteristic 3 grey lines running backwards from the eye.
School size 5–400 number (if unknown leave blank).
Pelvis unknown.
Body torpedo shaped.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.


Sousa plumbea (Humpback Dolphin)


http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Humpback+dolphin

Distribution inshore; or Southern Africa.
Conseravation status Vulnerable.
Size 2.8 m.
Weight 280 kg.
Echolocation unknown.
Dorsal fin present.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal dark-grey.
Colour ventral off-white.
Migration unknown.
Diet krill; or fish.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head long, narrow, pointed beak.
Distinctive characteristic mid dorsal elongate ridge on back.
School size 5–25 number (if unknown leave blank).
Snout unknown.
Pelvis unknown.
Body torpedo shaped.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.

Lissodelphis peronii (Southern Right Whale Dolphin)


http://images.google.co.za/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Lissodelphis+peronii

Distribution cold temperate waters; or Southern hemisphere.
Conseravation status Unknown.
Size 2.3 m.
Weight 60 kg.
Echolocation present.
Dorsal fin absent.
Throat grooves unknown.
Colour dorsal black.
Colour ventral white.
Migration unknown.
Diet squid; or fish; or octopus; or tiny crustaceans.
Breeding grounds Unknown.
Head white face.
Distinctive characteristic dorsal fin absent.
Snout rounded.
Pelvis unknown.
Body torpedo shaped.
Baleen plates present No.
Teeth present Yes.

References:

Branch, G.M., Griffiths, C.L., Branch, M.L., Beckley, L.E.(2002) Two Oceans: A guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa, David Philips Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa, 360pp
Gaskin, D.E.(1982) The Ecolgy of Whales and Dolphins, BAS Printers Ltd, Britain, 459pp
Macdonald, D., Norris, S.(2001) The New Encyclopedia of Mammals, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 930pp
Purves, P.E. & Pilleri G.E.(1983) Echolocation in Whales and Dolphins, Galliard Printes Ltd, Great Britain, 261pp
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/




DESCRIPTION OF 10 COMMON ATLANTIC OCEAN JELLYFISH

Description of Cyanea capillata

Shape umbrella.
Bell description unknown.
Bell diameter 50–250 cm.
Bell height 50–250 cm.
Bell margin scalloped.
Marginal lappets present.
Exumbrella surface unknown.
Mesoglea unknown.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description thin; or clustered; or whip-like; or hollow; or long.
Tentacle location arise from subumbrella surface.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description unknown.
Stomach poaches present.
Oral arms present.
Oral arm description unknown.
Gonad position unknown.
Colour orange-tan oral arms.
Geographical range around South African coast none.
Synonyms lion's mane jellyfish; or red jelly.


http://www.soil.msu.ru/~invert/main_eng/photoalbum/cyanea.html


Description of Pelagia noticulata

Shape umbrella.
Bell description square hemispherical; or deep.
Bell diameter 12 cm.
Bell margin scalloped.
Marginal lappets present.
Marginal lappet number 16.
Exumbrella surface warty.
Mesoglea unknown.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description whip-like; or long.
Tentacle number 8.
Tentacle location marginal.
Rhopalia number 8.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description unknown.
Stomach poaches present.
Oral arms present.
Oral arm description warty; or frilly.
Gonad position center of bell.
Colour red-magenta-brown spots on oral arms; or red-magenta-brown spots on exumbrella.
Geographical range around South African coast Fasle Bay.
Synonyms night-light jellyfish.

http://www.njscuba.net/biology/sw_jellies.html


Description of Eupilema inexpectata

Shape umbrella.
Bell description shallow; or hemispherical.
Bell diameter 30 cm.
Bell margin "serrated".
Marginal lappets present.
Marginal lappet number 8.
Exumbrella surface finely granular.
Mesoglea thicker in center.
Tentacles absent.
Tentacle description absent.
Tentacle location absent.
Rhopalia number 8.
Mouth absent.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" present.
Stomach description unknown.
Stomach poaches unknown.
Oral arms present.
Oral arm description fused at base; or smooth.
Gonad position unknown.
Colour variable.
Geographical range around South African coast south coast; or west coast; or east coast.
Synonyms root-mouthed jellyfish.

Taken from: Boltovskoy D (Ed) (1999) South Atlantic Zooplankton. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 868. ISBN 90-5782-035-8


Description of Aequorea conica

Shape conical.
Bell description domed apex.
Bell diameter 0.9 cm.
Bell height 1–1.2 cm.
Bell margin smooth.
Marginal lappets absent.
Exumbrella surface smooth.
Mesoglea thick.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description thin; or short.
Tentacle number 20–30.
Tentacle location marginal.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description unknown.
Stomach poaches unknown.
Oral arms absent.
Oral arm description absent.
Gonad position radial canals.
Colour variable.
Geographical range around South African coast west coast.
Synonyms crystal jellyfish.

Taken from:Boltovskoy D (Ed) (1999) South Atlantic Zooplankton. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 868. ISBN 90-5782-035-8

Description of Periphylla periphylla

Shape conical.
Bell description domed apex.
Bell diameter 25 cm.
Bell height 35 cm.
Bell margin scalloped.
Marginal lappets present.
Marginal lappet number 16.
Exumbrella surface smooth.
Mesoglea rigid; or thick.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description stiff; or solid.
Tentacle number 12.
Tentacle location marginal.
Rhopalia number 4.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description large.
Stomach poaches unknown.
Oral arms absent.
Oral arm description absent.
Gonad position interradial septa.
Colour red-brown manubrium and stomach.
Geographical range around South African coast west coast.
Synonyms helmet jelly.

http://jellieszone.com/periphylla.htm


Description of Chrysaora hysoscella


Shape umbrella.
Bell description flatter than a hemisphere; or shallow.
Bell diameter 15–28 cm.
Bell margin scalloped.
Marginal lappets present.
Marginal lappet number 32–48.
Exumbrella surface smooth.
Mesoglea thick.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description hollow; or long.
Tentacle number 24.
Tentacle location between cleft of lappets; or marginal.
Rhopalia number 8.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description unknown.
Stomach poaches present.
Oral arms present.
Oral arm description narrow; or v-shaped; or frilly.
Oral arm number 4.
Gonad position stomach.
Colour brown v-shaped bans on exumbrella; or brown lappets.
Geographical range around South African coast west coast.
Synonyms red-banded jellyfish; or compass jellyfish; or sea nettle.


http://www.riminiambiente.it/index.jsp?idsection=32&idsubsection=162


Description of Solmundella bitentaculata


Shape bell-shaped.
Bell description domed apex.
Bell diameter 0.5 cm.
Bell height 0.5 cm.
Bell margin scalloped.
Marginal lappets unknown.
Exumbrella surface unknown.
Mesoglea thick at apex.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description long.
Tentacle number 2.
Tentacle location above bell edge.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description short; or broad; or circular.
Stomach poaches present.
Oral arms absent.
Oral arm description absent.
Gonad position stomach.
Colour variable.
Geographical range around South African coast west coast.
Synonyms unknown.

http://www.medusozoa.com/hydro_pics.html


Description of Liriope tetraphylla

Shape umbrella.
Bell description flat at apex; or hemispherical.
Bell diameter 1–3 cm.
Bell margin smooth.
Marginal lappets absent.
Exumbrella surface unknown.
Mesoglea thin; or thick at apex.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description hollow; or long.
Tentacle number 4.
Tentacle location marginal.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" present.
Stomach description small.
Stomach poaches unknown.
Oral arms absent.
Oral arm description absent.
Gonad position radial canals.
Colour variable.
Geographical range around South African coast west coast.


http://www.usp.br/cbm/pesquisa/migotto/hidromedusas.html


Description of Carybdea alata

Shape cubodial.
Bell description flat at apex; or deep.
Bell diameter 2 cm.
Bell height 4 cm.
Bell margin smooth.
Marginal lappets absent.
Exumbrella surface smooth.
Mesoglea thin.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description whip-like; or long.
Tentacle number 4.
Tentacle location at each corner of bell.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description unknown.
Stomach poaches present.
Oral arms absent.
Oral arm description absent.
Gonad position radial sinus.
Colour variable.
Geographical range around South African coast south coast; or west coast.
Synonyms box jellyfish; or sea wasp.

http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/plankton.html

Description of Aurelia aurita


Shape umbrella.
Bell description shallow.
Bell diameter 30 cm.
Bell margin scalloped.
Marginal lappets unknown.
Exumbrella surface smooth.
Tentacles present.
Tentacle description hollow; or short.
Tentacle location marginal.
Mouth present.
Tiny pores "mouthlets" absent.
Stomach description unknown.
Stomach poaches present.
Oral arms present.
Oral arm description v-shaped.
Gonad position stomach.
Colour variable.
Geographical range around South African coast west coast.
Synonyms moon jellyfish.


http://www.aquarium-du-golfe.com/english/wallpaper.php

Primary reference: Boltovskoy D (Ed) (1999) South Atlantic Zooplankton. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 868. ISBN 90-5782-035-8

Secondary refernce:Pages F, Gili JP and Bouillon J (1992) Medusa (Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Cubozoa) of the Benguela Current. Scientia Marina 56:1-64


INTERACTIVE KEY ON DOLPHINS AND WHALES

Key 5a. Confirmatory characters


Characters: 22 in data, 15 included, 8 in key.
Items: 11 in data, 11 included, 14 in key.
Parameters: Rbase = 1.40 Abase = 2.00 Reuse = 1.01 Varywt = .80
Characters included: 1–2 6–13 15 19–22
Character reliabilities: 1–22,5.0

1(0).
  • Colour dorsal black-blue ... Balaena glacialis
  • Colour dorsal white... Megaptera novaeangliae
  • Colour dorsal black... 2
  • Colour dorsal pale-grey... Delphinus delphis
  • Colour dorsal grey... 5
  • Colour dorsal dark-grey... 6
  • Colour dorsal dark blue-grey... Stenella coeruleoalba

2(1).

  • Echolocation present ... 3
  • Echolocation unknown... 4

3(2).

  • Snout rounded; Dorsal fin absent; Migration unknown; Conseravation status Unknown ... Lissodelphis peronii
  • Snout unknown; Dorsal fin present; Migration yes; Conseravation status Low risk... Orcinus orca

4(2).

  • Snout rounded ... Cephalorhynchus heavisidii, Lagenorhynchus obscurus
  • Snout unknown... Delphinus delphis

5(1).

  • Colour ventral off-white speckled with grey spots; Snout moderate length; Body robust ... Tursiops truncatus
  • Colour ventral grey; Snout unknown; Body very large and prune-like... Physeter macrocephalus

6(1).

  • Snout moderate length ... Tursiops truncatus
  • Snout rounded... Lagenorhynchus obscurus
  • Snout unknown... Sousa plumbea


INTERACTIVE KEY ON ATLANTIC OCEAN JELLYFISH

Characters: 25 in data, 19 included, 10 in key.
Items: 10 in data, 10 included, 10 in key.
Parameters: Rbase = 1.40 Abase = 2.00 Reuse = 1.01 Varywt = .80
Characters included: 1–2 5–6 8–11 13 15–20 22–25
Character reliabilities: 1–25,5.0

1(0).
  • Gonad position center of bell ... Pelagia noticulata
  • Gonad position stomach... 2
  • Gonad position interradial septa... Periphylla periphylla
  • Gonad position radial canals... 4
  • Gonad position radial sinus... Carybdea alata
  • Gonad position unknown... 5

2(1).

  • Marginal lappets present ... Chrysaora hysoscella
  • Marginal lappets unknown... 3

3(2).

  • Exumbrella surface smooth; shape umbrella; bell description shallow;
    tentacle location marginal ... Aurelia aurita
  • Exumbrella surface unknown; shape bell-shaped; bell description domed apex; tentacle location above bell edge... Solmundella bitentaculata

4(1).

  • Exumbrella surface smooth; tiny pores "mouthlets" absent; stomach
    description unknown; shape conical ... Aequorea conica
  • Exumbrella surface unknown; tiny pores "mouthlets" present; stomach
    description small; shape umbrella... Liriope tetraphylla

5(1).

  • Exumbrella surface finely granular; tiny pores "mouthlets" present; bell
    margin "serrated"; mesoglea thicker in center ... Eupilema inexpectata
  • Exumbrella surface unknown; tiny pores "mouthlets" absent; bell margin
    scalloped; mesoglea unknown... Cyanea capillata