This catalog contains photographs of nearly 1900 different humpback whales taken in southeastern Alaska from 1979 to present. Each whale can be identified by the unique black and white pattern on the underside of the flukes. Within this catalog the whales are grouped by color pattern. Whales with no white on their flukes comprise nearly half of the catalog; therefore this color pattern is subdivided by the width (narrow or wide) of the notch between each fluke. Each color division contains pages of thumbnail photographs. Located directly under each photo is a unique identification number for each whale.
Click on the links below to view these photographs. To see a larger version of the photograph, click on the photo.
100% to 75% white
75% to 50% white
50% to 25% white
25% or less white
0% white with narrow notch
0% white with wide notch
Click HERE for a printable PDF version of the catalog.
Many researchers have shared sighting histories and contributed photographs throughout the years.
Our thanks go to:
University of Alaska Southeast, Jennifer Cedarleaf, Rob Billideau, Steve Lewis, Elizabeth Mathews, Heather Riley, Kevin Riley, Jan Straley, Bree Witteveen, Nia White, Betsy Wilson, Manami Yamaguchi
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Alex Andrews, Scott Baker, Ellen Chenoweth,Chris Gabriele, Tracy Hart, Janet Neilson, Tania Lewis, Anjanette Perry, Mark Schroeder, Melissa Senac, Jan Straley
J. Straley Investigations
Renee DeVito, Curtis Edwards, Jim and Carol Greenough, Tom Griffin, Richard Nelson, Jan and John Straley
NOAA, Alaska Fisheries Science Center(AFSC), Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, Auke Bay Laboratories(ABL)
John Moran, Suzie Teerlink, J.J. Vollenweider
Sitka Sound Science Center
Ellen Chenoweth, Carrie Hisaoka, Linda Speerstra, Lauren Wild
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Janet Neilson, Betsy Wilson
Alaska Whale Foundation
Sean Hanser, Fred Sharpe, Andy Szabo
NOAA, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC)
Jay Barlow, Siri Hakala, Michael Richlen
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Kelly Hastings, Laurie Jemison, Jamie King, Steve Lewis
Cascadia Research Collective
John Calambokidis, Erin Falcone, Greg Schorr
Whale Trust
Jim Darling, Flip Nicklin
Humboldt State University, Dept Biological Sciences
Jeff Jacobsen
Dena Matkin Research
Dena Matkin
Albatross Research Group
Rod McVicar, Louis Rzen, Chris Tulloch
North Gulf Oceanic Society
Craig Matkin, Eva Saulitis
Alaska SeaLife Center
Russ Andrews
NOAA, National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML)
Marilyn Dahlheim, Sally Mizroch, Christy Sims
Other Contributors
Tim Cole, Laurie Countryman, Volker Deecke, Stephanie Fernandez, Charles Jurasz, Carley Lowe, Bud Marschner, Jim Nahmens, Paul Norwood, Kathy Peavey, Heather Peterson, Tim Shobe, Leslie Slater, Bill Stehl
Photographs in this catalog were taken under NOAA scientific research permits issued to each researcher and, where applicable, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee authorization. A NOAA permit authorizes research activities under the provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. Numerous permits were issued to contributing researchers which are available upon request.
If you have a photo of the flukes of a humpback whale taken in southeastern Alaska please visit the Contribute Sightings page of this website to see how your photograph can help with our research.
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