[CINC] common dolphin identification

[Michael H Smith]

Hello, Bill,
It is extremely difficult to tell the two species apart in the field, and made more difficult by the variety of coloration within species and that occasionally they mix species within groups.

I recommend you get a copy of Evidence for two species of common dolphins by John E. Heyning. Don't test your skill yet on in-field observation. Take some pictures and look at the pictures. See if you can isolate the key indicators in an image. Then try your skill in the field and take pictures as well. Check the images to see if you ID was what you thought it was in the field. After a bit, you will get it and be right much of the time.

Have fun. 
My best,
Michael

Michael H Smith, 
Project Coordinator

Gray Whales Count
nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation 
for research and education

211 W Gutierrez St    
Studio  8
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
USA

(805)  451-4600   mobile            
michael at GrayWhalesCount.org

project-collaborators include: 
Scripps Whale Acoustic Lab, SIO / UCSD, La Jolla
Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA  
UCSB's Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve, Goleta

On Jul 8, 2011, at 5:40 PM, bill weinerth wrote:

> In the last couple days a couple postings have identified common dolphins as long beaked or short beaked.  The information may be correct but I have been told over the nine years of volunteering that such ID is very difficult and even experts are often not sure.  
> I post this as a caution with a request that such ID include how the ID was made so I can get up dated and up to speed.
> Thanks
> Bill Weinerth
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