MEET THE WHALES
Browse the ID-Catalogue
HOW TO IDENTIFY A WHALE?
Every killer whale is unique. Individuals can be recognized by the shape of their dorsal fin, its nicks and scars, and the pigmentation patterns of their saddle patch.
These markings can remain recognizable for decades, although new scars and nicks may change a whale's appearance over time.
Why only left sides? By convention, this catalogue uses photographs of the whales' left sides, following the approach established by early researchers.
FIND YOUR WHALES
Have you photographed a killer whale in Norway? Explore the catalogue below to see if you recognize it! 👀
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Step 1: Start with the sex/age class.
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Step 2: Use the shape, nicks and markings of the dorsal fin and saddle patch to narrow your search.
BROWSE THE CATALOGUE
Adult Males
Adult Females
(& Subadults)
CAN'T FIND YOUR WHALE?
Not all identified whales are shown here. This online catalogue features only the individuals we encounter most frequently.
WHERE ARE THE CALVES?
Young calves often lack reliable, permanent identifying features. We track them through their association with their mothers, but they are not included in this online catalogue.