have also been
observed to "lobtail," raising the tail flukes above the water and
slapping them against the surface, and to jump clear of the water.

In the late 19th century, after stocks of bowhead whales were severely
reduced by overwhaling, northern bottlenosed whales became a prime
target of arctic whalers. They were sought because in addition to whale
oil produced from the body blubber, the forehead of the species yielded
quantities of spermaceti like that obtained from sperm whales.

May Be Confused With

Northern bottlenosed whales have a northerly and deep-water
distribution. Within their range, they may be confused at a distance
with minke whales, with sperm whales, or perhaps with North Sea beaked
whales.

Minke whales (p. 63) have a falcate dorsal fin located in approximately
the same position as that of the northern bottlenosed whale. However,
minke whales have a flathead in front of their two blow holes and are
black to dark gray on the back.

Sperm whales (p. 57) have a squarish head that may somewhat resemble
that of an adult male northern bottlenosed whale. However, there are
numerous characteristics which will permit these species to be
distinguished even from a distance:

NORTHERN
BOTTLENOSED WHALE SPERM WHALE

BLOW

Low and bushy; projects Low and bushy, projects
upward from indentation on obliquely forward from left
top of head. side of head; usually less
than 8 feet (2.4 m).

COLORATION

Lighter brown; adults splotched Brownish gray; body appears
with grayish white; wrinkled.
body smooth.

FLUKES

Rarely notched; seldom raised Notched; raised on long dive.
on long dive.

HEAD

Tapering in younger animals; Squarish, long, all black;
bulbous in adults; beakless.
white in older animals; beaked.

A further aid to distinguishing northern bottlenosed and sperm whales at
sea is the fact that the sperm whales that are found in areas where
northern bottlenosed whales are encountered are usually older, larger
males from 40 to 60 feet (12.2 to 18.3 m) long. Northern bottlenosed
whales do not exceed 32 feet (9.8 m).

Northern bottlenosed whales may also be confused with the poorly known
North Sea beake