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L. lutris exists in the Commander Islands, the Aleutian Islands, and throughout central and southeastern coastal Alaskan waters; and E. l. nereis primarily occupies waters off central California (sensu Jefferson et al. 1993), but note that Reeves et al. (1992) use a somewhat different nomenclature. 5 m in length and weighing up to 45 kg), is characterized by extremely dense underfur, with sparse guard hairs, flattened hind feet for propulsion in water, retractile claws on the front feet only, lack of functional anal scent glands, a loose, axillary flap of skin to hold or store food and tools, posterior cheek teeth that lack cutting edges, a small pinna, and a horizontally flattened tail (see Figs.

L. nereis primarily occupies waters off central California (sensu Jefferson et al. 1993), but note that Reeves et al. (1992) use a somewhat different nomenclature. 5 m in length and weighing up to 45 kg), is characterized by extremely dense underfur, with sparse guard hairs, flattened hind feet for propulsion in water, retractile claws on the front feet only, lack of functional anal scent glands, a loose, axillary flap of skin to hold or store food and tools, posterior cheek teeth that lack cutting edges, a small pinna, and a horizontally flattened tail (see Figs.

Musculus Blue whale B. physalus Fin whale Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback whale Eschrichtiidae Eschrichtius robustus Gray whale Source: Jefferson et al. 1993. Note that more than one common name may be used and recognized for particular species. As noted above, there is no complete agreement regarding cetacean systematics. Following the identification key and organizational scheme of Jefferson et al. (1993), there are four families of mysticetes (Table 1-5): the Balaenidae (right and bowhead whales), Neobalaenidae (pygmy right whale), Balaenopteridae (rorquals), and Eschrichtiidae (gray whale).