Scientific illustrations

SINGLE CETACEANS | CETACEAN SERIES | OTHER WILDLIFE

 

Single Cetaceans

 


Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai)
Digital

Made in cooperation with, and commissioned by Salvatore Cerchio of http://www.omuraswhale.org/


Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
Digital


Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
Digital

The distribution and ecological interaction between these two species is very interesting. In many places, two types of Common bottlenose dolphin exist:

• The coastal / inshore type, which inhabits small ranges in (very) shallow water
• The oceanic / offshore type, which inhabits very large ranges in deep water

The oceanic type can appear quite close to shore in places where the seafloor quickly drops (here the coastal type is often absent), but in most areas with extended shallows the coastal type will make its home. However, once you enter the range of the Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin, the coastal type disappears. Indo-pacific bottlenoses completely fill their coastal niche, and only oceanic-type Common bottlenoses remain. This situation is very noticeable in Australia, which these illustrations are based on.

It’s interesting to note though that coastal Common bottlenose dolphins from warmer waters can look incredibly similar to Indo-pacific bottlenoses: including a longer beak, large fins and spotted undersides (which are usually seen as Indo-pacific-specific traits). Curiously, spotting is actually absent on Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins from the southern half of Australia.


Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) – female and calf
Digital


Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
Digital


Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
Digital


Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)
Digital


Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) – male
Digital


Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
Digital


 

Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
Digital

Commissioned by the Porpoise Conservation Society


Dall’s porpoise dalli type (Phocoenoides dalli dalli) male, female, calf
Digital

Commissioned by the Porpoise Conservation Society


Dall’s porpoise truei type (Phocoenoides dalli truei) male, female, calf
Digital

Commissioned by the Porpoise Conservation Society


Burmeister’s porpoise (Phocoena spinipinnis)
Digital

Commissioned by the Porpoise Conservation Society


Killer whales (Orcinus orca) bull, cow and calf
Digital

Commissioned by the Norwegian Orca Survey


Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lifesize painting
Digital

A lifesize illustration of a female Southern Hemisphere humpback whale. Commissioned by Richnerstutz for Zoo Zurich. There the whale will be printed at 9.5 metres length, to accompany an exhibition on humpback whales in Masaola Bay of Madagascar.