Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit - Catalogue of Individually Recognisable Bottlenose Dolphins

A catalogue of individually-recognisable bottlenose dolphins using the southern coastline of the outer Moray Firth

Robinson, K.P., Eisfeld, S.M., Culloch, R.M., Gimenez-Reguera, B. & Margaris, K. (2006)

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit, PO Box 11307, Banff AB45 3WB, Scotland

Photo-identification (or Photo-ID) is a powerful tool used by marine mammal biologists for assessing the size of cetacean populations and estimating key population parameters. Individual animals can be recognised by the unique shape and size of their characteristic dorsal fins and by naturally-occuring marks and scars on their fins and body without the need to tag or catch the animals. In our studies of bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth in NE Scotland, a number of features are used to distinguish individuals in the population. These may include: distinct notches or nicks in the trailing (and sometimes leading) edges of the easily tattered dorsal fin; obvious de-pigmented areas; and a range of major and minor scratches and skin lesions. Whilst some of these features may remain useful throughout a long-term study, others may only be useful over a short period of time. Some of the more well-known individuals found to use the coastline forming the outer Moray Firth can be seen below.

The following file contains images of the bottlenose dolphins most regularly recorded by the CRRU research team along the southern coastline of the outer Moray Firth. These images have been selected from the CRRU's bottlenose dolphin archive and represent just a snap shot of some of the more commonly identifiable animals (mainly adults) seen in this region. Please bear in mind when browsing through the following material that the information contained here is in no way final or complete, as the bottlenose archive is continually being updated / modified, and therefore these records do not represent an end-product of any description. The relational database from which the following information has been extracted contains detailed information on the individual sightings histories for all of the animals shown in the pages of the following attachment, as well as their intra-specific associations and affiliates, encounter positions and group sizes, behaviour and movements, and reproductive histories etc recorded from 1997 to present.

To view the catalogue (as a pdf document_Note: 7MB), click HERE.

ID # 02 ID # 05 ID # 10 ID # 14 ID # 15

ID # 19 ID # 21 ID # 24 ID # 26 ID # 35

ID # 43 ID # 46 ID # 51 ID # 55 ID # 61

ID # 63 ID # 65 ID # 66 ID # 67 ID # 68

ID # 69 ID # 71 ID # 72 ID # 78 ID # 80

ID # 85 ID # 87 ID # 102 ID # 103 ID # 105

ID # 115 ID # 130 ID # 139 ID # 140 ID # 149

All photographs copyright Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit
do not copy, use or circulate without written permission

The CRRU is proud to be a partner and contributor to "Europhlukes", an EC project to develop
a European Photo-ID System and Database for cetaceans in Europe

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