In the Region :: Marine
Mammals :: Marine
Turtles :: Strandings
:: Beach Response
In the Region
Three categories of marine animals strand in the waters around
Cape Cod:
1- Whales, including dolphins and porpoises
Whales, dolphins and porpoises are mammals and members of the scientific
order: Cetaceans.
The species that strand most frequently are
Pilot whales
Atlantic white-sided dolphins
Common dolphins
Harbor porpoises
2-Seals
Seals are mammals and members of the scientific suborder: Pinnipeds
Four kinds of seals are seen in the waters around Cape Cod:
Harbor seals and Gray seals are native to the region.
Harp seals and Hooded seals live primarily in Arctic regions and
travel south at various times in their lives. Harp seals and Hooded
seals are commonly referred to as "ice seals."
Drawings from Marine Mammals Ashore:
A Field Guide for Strandings, by Joseph R. Geraci, VMD, PhD,
and Valerie J. Lounsbury. Used with permission.
3- Marine turtles
Marine turtles are reptiles. Five species are seen in this region:
Kemps's Ridley, Loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill, and Leatherback. In
recent years an occasional hybrid has been found. All five species
are on the US Endangered Species List as either threatened (Loggerhead)
or endangered (the other four).
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