m false killer
whales (p. 91).

In the extreme northern portion of their range, short-finned pilot
whales may be confused with Atlantic pilot whales. The two species may
be distinguished by differences itemized on p. 93.

Distribution

Though short-finned pilot whales are known from Delaware Bay, their
normal range appears to extend from Bermuda and Cape Hatteras (Virginia
in summer) south to the Venezuelan coast. They have been reported for
the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the islands of the West Indies.

Stranded Specimens

Stranded short-finned pilot whales may be confused with any of the
species itemized under living animals. They may be identified as pilot
whales primarily by the robust body and bulbous head, often squarish in
adult animals, and the broad-based, falcate dorsal fin located well
forward on the animal's back. Accurate determination of the pilot whale
species involved may require museum preparation of the skull and
detailed examination of its characteristics. Preliminary identification
may be made, however, on the basis of the following:

ATLANTIC PILOT WHALE SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE

DISTRIBUTION

Primarily North Carolina Primarily North Carolina
north. south.

FLIPPERS

To one-fifth body length, To less than one-sixth body
or more. length.

TEETH
8-11 per row. 7-9 per row.

[Illustration: Figure 100.--Short-finned pilot whales stranded in
northeastern Florida, shown here swimming in the lagoon at Marineland of
Florida. This species, like their northern cousins, the Atlantic pilot
whales, have a highly distinctive dorsal fin and a bulbous head (see
Figs. 97, 99). In these photos note the variation in the shape of the
head. Those of females and immature males are more rounded. Those of
adult males are far more blunted. (_Photo courtesy of Marineland of
Florida._)]

[Illustration: Figure 101.--Short-finned pilot whales have from 7 to 10
teeth in each side of each jaw. The bulbous forehead of the species is
far less pronounced in females and immature males (left). The head of
mature males is extremely "squarish" and may overhang the lower jaw by
several inches (right). (_Photos from Aquatarium (left) and southeastern
Florida by D. K. Caldwell (right)._)]

[Illustration: Figure 102.--The flippers of short-finned pilot whales
reach