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Scott Kraus/New England Aquarium

Photo-identification, the process of using photographs of natural markings to distinguish one individual animal from another, is the foundation of most modern whale studies (cetology). Many whale species have a physical characteristic that is unique for each individual of that species.

  • In humpback whales, it is a black and white pattern on the underside of the tail, or flukes, as well as the shape of the dorsal fin.
  • For sperm whales, researchers use the profile of the scalloping along the trailing edge of the flukes.
  • And for right whales, it is the distinct pattern of the callosities (raised tissue) on the top of their heads. See how it works in detail or look at a matching example.

Researchers who study each species take photographs of these features and then compare them to photographs in a catalog to determine when and where that individual was seen before. As these photographs of a particular species are collected from different areas over time, researchers monitor population demographics, mortality, reproductive success, ocean habitat use patterns, and trends in health and rates of human-caused scarring. These data can be used to discern population-wide problems, develop recovery strategies, and evaluate the impact of management and conservation efforts.

How Right Whale Photoidentification Works

See how researchs identify right whales, including a matching example and descriptions of callosity patterns and other identifying marks.

The History of Right Whale Photo Identification

Photo-identification studies have been particularly important for understanding the plight of the North Atlantic right whale, which endured nearly a millennium of whaling before becoming protected in 1935 by a League of Nations resolution.