Photo-identication of individual dolphins and
whales has been an important part of research on
the behaviour and biology of cetaceans since the
early 1970s (Würsig & Würsig, 1977), and is now
a common method used in many eld studies
(Würsig & JeVerson, 1990; Samuels& Tyack, 2000).
Longitudinal studies incorporating individual
recognition techniques have provided some of
the most complete and detailed information on
cetacean societies (Mann, 2000).