James L. Cummins

Whales in the Gulf by James L. Cummins

There are several species of whales found in the Gulf of America. The two most sighted are: the killer whale (orca) and the sperm whale. In the summer of 2008, four large pods (schools or herds) of killer whales were spotted approximately 125 miles southeast of Pascagoula, Mississippi, by a group of people aboard the Shady Lady Charter Boat. 

While any sighting of a killer whale is rare, it is even more unusual that several groups of them would be spotted at one time. Orcas are toothed whales that grow to be up to 33 feet long and can weigh upwards of 3 tons. Orcas breathe air at the surface of the water through a blowhole located near the top of their head. Their diverse diets consist of turtles, fish, birds, seals, and other marine mammals. 

The orca’s skin is mostly black with distinctive white patches. They have stocky bodies and rounded heads with a distinctive beak. They have a tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and large, paddle-like flippers. The male’s dorsal fin is taller and more upright than that of the female, with an average height of up to 6 feet. The killer whale is the largest member of the dolphin family. Orcas communicate with clicks used in echolocation, whistles, and scream-like pulses. These are used to communicate with other orcas for mating purposes and for locating prey. It has been observed that different pods have distinctive “accents” and can recognize other members by this accent. 

Another whale commonly found in the Gulf of America is the sperm whale. Considered a social species of whale, sperm whales in the Gulf of America exhibit a specific type of vocalization when gathered as a group. This form of communication, called a coda, was found to be a distinctively different dialect when compared to codas of sperm whales in other areas such as the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas. 

These whales swim at speeds up to 10 knots but can make short bursts of up to 20 knots. Dark bluish gray to black in color, they may also have white on the belly and lower jaw. The sperm whale also holds the distinction of having the largest brain of any animal–weighing in at 20 pounds. These two whales, along with other whale species such as Blainsville’s beaked whales, humpback whales, melon-headed whales, Gervais’ beaked whales, and 13 others, have been observed in areas south of the coast of Texas to just south of Florida and up into the Mississippi River Delta and the Mississippi Canyon. 

Research and tracking are done to determine the size, age, gender, feeding, and communication behaviors, as well as the distribution of the many species of whales and other marine mammals in the Gulf of America. So, if you are out on the Gulf of America look for signs of these magnificent creatures. They are truly a sight to behold in their natural habitat.

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