Introduction

Photo-identification is one of the most useful tools of whale biologists. A good black and white photograph of the flanks as well as of the underside of the tailflukes allows us to identify each individual animal in our study area. This gives us important information on the association patterns and movements of our study animals.

This picture shows the right-hand side of the tail-stock of individual G012 (Target Right). The photo was taken on August 15th, 1995, off the Eliza Islands. From the following four pictures, click on the one you think shows the same animal. Have a good look at details in the pigmentation patterns of the flanks of the four whales! (hint: one of them is going the wrong way.)