that wash up on the shore. If properly collected and stored, these carcasses can provide important information that is difficult to obtain in field studies. Identifying individuals In recent decades, methods of identifying individual cetaceans have enabled accurate population counts and insights into the life cycles and social structures of various species. One such successful system is photo-identification. This system was popularized by Michael Bigg, a pioneer in modern orca (killer whale) research. During the mid-1970s, Bigg and Graeme Ellis photographed local orcas in the British Columbian seas. After examining the photos, they realized they could recognize certain individual whales by looking at the shape and condition of the dorsal fin, and also the shape of the saddle patch. These are as unique as a human fingerprint; no one animal's looks is exactly like another's. After they could recognize certain individuals, they found that the animals travel in stable groups called pods. Researchers use photo identification to identify specific individuals and pods. The photographic system has also worked well in humpback whale studies. Researchers use the color of the pectoral fins and color and scarring of the fluke to identify individuals. Scars from orca attacks found on the flukes of humpbacks are also used in identification. Related journals Mammal Review Cetology See also :Category:Cetologists Cetology of Moby-Dick Notes References Whales: Giants of the Sea, 2000 Transients: Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales, by John K.B. Ford and Graeme M. Ellis, 1999 External links Dolphins in Greek Mythology Whale Trackers - A Documentary Series about Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. Cetacean research and conservation Mammalogy Marine biology