Captain's Blog

California sea lions at Los Islotes R. Nawojchik Harbor seal at Islas Todos Santos R. Nawojchik Guadalupe fur seal at Isla San Benito R. Nawojchik Northern elephant seals at Isla San Benito R. Nawojchik

For the first nine blogs in this series, we’ve been focusing on various species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins). Another major group of marine mammals is the pinnipeds, a group that includes seals, sea lions, fur seals, and the walrus. Of the 33 species of pinnipeds in the world, four can be seen on a regular basis in Baja: harbor seal, northern elephant seal, California sea lion, and Guadalupe fur seal.

The group Pinnipedia is a taxonomic group that is embedded within the mammalian order Carnivora. The order Carnivora is the order that contains such species as lions, tigers, and bears, as well as dogs, cats, skunks, otters, raccoons, and hyenas, among others. The inclusion of the pinnipeds within the order Carnivora tells us that the closest relatives of the pinnipeds are the members of the Carnivora, rather than other marine mammals or other orders of mammals. More specifically, the pinnipeds are more closely affiliated with the “arctoid carnivores” (a group that includes weasels, otters, and bears) as opposed to the “aeluroid carnivores” (a group that includes mongooses, hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetahs, etc.).

The pinnipeds are comprised of three families: Phocidae (18 species), Otariidae (14 species), and Odobenidae. The family Odobenidae contains just one species, the walrus. The walrus is perhaps the most recognizable of all the pinnipeds, mostly due to the large tusks. Found only in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, we do not see any walruses in Baja. However, it is interesting to note that during the Middle Miocene and Late Miocene epochs (16 – 5 million years ago), a time of great radiation of pinniped lineages, there were many more species of odobenids. Some of these Miocene odobenids lived along California and Baja. Paleontologists have discovered many fossils of Miocene “walruses” in sandstone formations in Baja.

The family Phocidae includes the harbor seal and northern elephant seal. Phocids (i.e., members of the family Phocidae) have several characteristics in common. Phocids have relatively small front flippers that are of limited use on land. Their hind flippers cannot be rotated beneath the seal for body support or land locomotion; instead, the hind flippers extend back from the animal’s body. When we see harbor and elephant seals on the beaches of Baja, they hunch along like giant caterpillars.

Small front flippers on the elephant seal at Isla San Benito. Photo R. Nawojchik

When swimming, phocids extend their hind flippers behind them and splay out the digits, forming a tail-like structure. The seals then undulate their bodies in a sinusoidal fashion, propelling them forward in what is known as “axial locomotion.” Phocids are sometimes called “earless seals”, a phrase I do not like. Phocids most certainly do have ears. What phocids lack is the earflap, found in most mammals, surrounding the outside ear opening. If you are close enough (which you are in Baja!) to see the side of the head of a phocid seal, you can easily see the ear opening behind the eye.

The family Otariidae includes the California sea lion and Guadalupe fur seal. In contrast to phocids, otariids have large front flippers, large enough to support some of their body weight while on land. Their hind flippers can be rotated under their body, again supporting some of the body weight. These features of the front and hind flippers allow otariids to walk on land in a quadrupedal fashion. Because of this ability, we often see sea lions and fur seals climbing rock faces in search of resting spots, areas not accessible to ungainly phocids.

Guadalupe fur seals on the rocks at Isla San Benito. Notice rotation of front flippers. Photo A. Cornick

In water, otariids use their large front flippers in an almost-flapping sort of motion to thrust themselves through the water. We get an up-close view of this “appendicular locomotion” when we snorkel with sea lions at Los Islotes, a rocky outcrop hosting a sea lion colony in the southern Gulf of California. Like most other mammals, but in contrast to phocids, otariids have an earflap around their ear opening.

California sea lion. Note external ear flap. Photo A. Marsh

This feature is one of the more easily discernible characteristics allowing us to separate otariids from phocids.

Unlike cetaceans, which spend their entire lives in water, pinnipeds “haul out” onto land for resting and reproduction. To avoid predators and human disturbance, pinnipeds tend to haul out on islands and isolated beaches. During our Searcher Natural History Tours to Baja, we visit at least three pinniped haul-out sites. On our first full day in Baja, we sail past the Todos Santos Islands, where, from the Searcher, we often can observe some hauled out elephant seals, harbor seals, and sea lions. The next day, we spend much of the day hiking around West San Benito Island.

Rob Nawojchik guides Searcher passengers around the elephant seal haul-out areas on Isla San Benito.

The main attraction at San Benito is the elephant seal colony, but we have also seen the other three species of Baja pinnipeds here.

Later in the trip, we visit Los Islotes to view California sea lions both above and below the water.

Viewing California sea lion characteristics underwater. Photo L. Morgan

In upcoming blogs, we’ll focus on each pinniped species in more detail.

"Long-beaked common dolphin (cow and calf): This is by far the most common species of cetacean associated with Baja." R. Nawojchik "These (bottlenose) dolphins often engage in acrobatic behavior, making them favorites among whale watchers." R. Nawojchik False killer whale cow and calf pair R. Nawojchik "Killer whale near Cabo Pulmo, Gulf of California. Note the white patch near the eye." R. Nawojchik "(Pacific white-sided dolphins) are characterized by a very small rostrum, a complex white-gray-black body coloration pattern, and a prominent recurved dorsal fin." R. Nawojchik "Risso's dolphin: Note the tall thin dorsal fin, the extensive scarring on the body, and the light-gray color." R. Nawojchik "The short-beaked (common dolphin) species tends to be found in deeper water, and is not as abundant or widely distributed in the Gulf of California as the long-beaked species." R. Nawojchik "Short-finned pilot whales: note the broad-based dorsal fin and the round bulbous melon." R. Nawojchik

For many people who participate in our Searcher Natural History Tours to Baja California, the large whales are the big attraction. It’s certainly easy to be mesmerized by the spectacular behaviors of a humpback whale, awestruck by the immensity of a blue whale, or emotionally transformed by a close encounter with a gray whale. However, despite the top-billing status of these giant creatures, they are often upstaged by the smaller species of marine mammals. Today we’ll examine one group, the dolphins, that are certainly charismatic in their own right.
All the dolphins we see in the waters around the Baja peninsula belong to the same family, Delphinidae. The family Delphinidae is comprised of about 38 species and contains the dolphin species most familiar to whale watchers. Included in the family are some species that have the word “whale” attached to their common name, such as the killer whale and the short-finned pilot whale. Some people get confused by the use of the words “whale” and “dolphin” and will ask, “Well, is the killer whale a whale or a dolphin?” In the context of the family Delphinidae, the word “whale” attached to the common name simply indicates a larger species of delphinid.
Fourteen species of delphinids have been documented in Baja. Some species, such as the bottlenose dolphin and the long-beaked common dolphin, are observed on almost every Searcher trip. Other species, however, are much less common. For example, the first scientific record of the pygmy killer whale in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) was from October 2014 in La Paz Bay. In eleven years of trips to Baja aboard Searcher, I’ve seen eight of the fourteen species. These eight species are discussed in approximate order from most-likely-to-be-seen to least-likely-to-be-seen, focusing on identification characteristics.

Long-beaked common dolphin: This is by far the most common species of cetacean associated with Baja. We see them from the Searcher on both the ocean and gulf sides of the peninsula. Long-beaked common dolphins are known for occurring in huge herds, often numbering in the hundreds of individuals, and sometimes in the thousands. However, we also often encounter much smaller groups. These dolphins are typically 6.5 – 8 feet long (2 – 2.5 m). They have a characteristic “hourglass” color pattern on their body that becomes more pronounced in older individuals. Closely related to the short-beaked common dolphin, long-beaked common dolphins can be distinguished by their relatively longer rostrum (along with some very subtle color differences). It can be challenging at times to separate the two species in the field, especially because younger individuals of both species can look quite similar to each other both in terms of coloration and rostrum length.

Bottlenose dolphin: These dolphins are found throughout the Baja California region, both on the ocean side and in the Gulf of California. We see them on a regular basis in Laguna San Ignacio, where they are the only species of dolphin represented. Bottlenose dolphins can get large, with adult lengths ranging from just over six feet to almost 12 feet (1.9 – 3.6 m). They are mostly uniform gray in color, with some slight color variations. Their rostrum (beak) is stocky and short to moderate in length. These dolphins often engage in acrobatic behavior, making them favorites among whale watchers.

Short-beaked common dolphin: In general, the distribution of the short-beaked common dolphin in Baja overlaps that of the long-beaked common dolphin. However, the short-beaked species tends to be found in deeper water, and is not as abundant or widely distributed in the Gulf of California as the long-beaked species. There are some subtle color differences between the two species, but I think in most cases the relative length of the rostrum is the more dependable characteristic. Even then, distinguishing between the two rostrum lengths (especially with younger dolphins) takes some practice and experience.

Risso’s dolphin: We’ve seen Risso’s dolphins both in the Gulf of California and on the Pacific side of the peninsula, although they are more likely to be found on the Pacific side. Risso’s dolphins can get up to 12 feet (3.6 m) long. They are characterized by such morphological features as a tall slender dorsal fin, a lack of a rostrum, and a crease in the melon. Probably the most distinctive feature is the amount of scarring on the body. Whereas young animals have a uniform gray color, older animals are typified by increasing numbers of scars and a resultant lightening of the overall body color. These scars are most likely the result of encounters with their squid prey and/or rake marks from other Risso’s dolphins.

Short-finned pilot whale: This is one of the larger members of the family Delphinidae, with females reaching 18 feet (5.5 m) and males 23 feet (7 m). Identification characteristics include a black to dark-gray body color, no rostrum, a prominent bulbous melon, and a dorsal fin with a very broad base. Pilot whales are highly social and live in tight-knit family groups.

Pacific white-sided dolphin: Although there are records of Pacific white-sided dolphins occurring along the entire Pacific coast of the Baja peninsula, and into the gulf as well, in my experience we usually encounter them only along the northern half of the Pacific side. By the time we get south of Laguna San Ignacio, we rarely see this species. Pacific white-sided dolphins get up to 8 feet (2.4 m) in length. They are characterized by a very small rostrum, a complex white-gray-black body coloration pattern, and a prominent recurved dorsal fin (mostly light colored with a dark leading edge).

Killer whale: The killer whale is the largest member of the family Delphinidae, with males reaching 32 feet in length (9.7 m); females are about a meter shorter than males. In addition to their large size, their dramatic black and white color pattern makes them instantly recognizable. The underside of the whale is white, with a lobe of white extending onto the flank. There is also a white oval patch near the eye and a gray “saddle” behind the dorsal fin. The pectoral flippers are large and paddle-shaped. The dorsal fin is quite tall and straight in males. As with all apex predators, the numbers of killer whales are always much fewer than animals lower in the food web, which helps explain why we rarely see them on our Baja trips.

False killer whale: The false killer whale is another large species of delphinid, with males reaching lengths of almost 20 feet (6 m) and females 16 feet (5 m). They have a slender body, no beak, a melon that overhangs the mouth, and pectoral flippers with a distinctive S-shape. They are black to dark gray in color, with some areas of lighter gray.

Others: The following delphinid species are rarely seen in Baja, but there are some records of their occurrence: rough-toothed dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin, spinner dolphin, striped dolphin, melon-headed whale, and pygmy killer whale. In 2016 the Searcher encountered a few dolphins that may have been rough-toothed dolphins.