Northern Right Whale Dolphin

Lissodelphis borealis

FIELD MARKS:
sleek body
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to 3m
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no dorsal fin
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black with white belly, white patch behind flippers
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white lips
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can be mistaken for a fur seal or a sea lion

Description

Maximum length 3m; 9 feet, male; 7 feet, female. Long, slender body tapering to a narrow tail stock and flukes. Flukes sharply pointed. Body looks almost eellike - no forehead, chin, dorsal fin, or dorsal ridges.

Body is black except for the white belly. White area is broad in front of the flippers and narrows from the flippers to the tail stock. Tip of jaw may be white. Flukes are light gray above and off-white below.

Note

Overall body color can be brownish rather than black. The white pattern underneath can vary with sex and among individuals. Young (calf) are much lighter in color - cream to light gray.

Habitat

Temperate waters off outer edge of continental shelf, also over shelf waters.

Range

Eastern North Pacific, in temperate waters between 30 degrees north and 50 degrees north latitude. Will move farther south if water temperatures are unseasonably low. Usually present year round off central and northern California just off the continental shelf, and are relatively abundant from Point Sur to Pt. Conception and the Channel Islands. Less common off Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

Food

This species feeds on squids and mid-water fishes.

Similar Species

At slow speed or when leaping low rapidly, they look like sea lions or fur seals.

Comments

Gregarious, often in herds of 100 or more. Often seen with the Pacific White-sided Dolphin. Fast swimmers, up to 18 knots. They run from approaching vessels, either by swimming just below the surface or by making low leaps.

When swimming, all tend to be airborne simultaneously, but they leap on an even keel, unlike the Pacific White-sided Dolphin. They occasionally belly flop, side slap, and lobtail. Occasionally ride bow waves. Usually found in the company of Pacific White-sided Dolphins.

Credits

Much of the information found here has been adapted from the following sources:

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