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)