Nicks and notches of the dorsal ridge: Promising mark types for the photo-identification of narwhals

摘要: The narwhal is a hunted species for which we have many knowledge gaps. Photoidentification, uses photographs of natural markings to identify individuals, widely used in cetacean studies and can address broad range biological questions. However, it has not been developed narwhals. marks other cetaceans are inappropriate this either because narwhals lack the body part on these found or known change with time. We investigated apparent Nicks notches dorsal ridge mark types most promising photo-identification. They 91%–98% thus allowing identification large population. be differentiate between they variable their location, numbers, shape, size. Although our results suggest that nicks relatively stable over time, rates should formally measured assess probability photographic matches multiple years. confident spanning at least field season.