This book concentrates on the marine mammalian group of Odontocetes, the toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises. In 23 chapters, a total of 40 authors describe general patterns of ethological concepts of odontocetes in their natural environments, with a strong bent towards behavioral ecology. Examples are given of particularly well-studied species and species groups for which enough data exist, especially from the past 15 years. The aim is to give a modern flavor of present knowledge of ethology and behavior of generally large-brained behaviorally flexible mammals that have evolved quite separately from social mammals on land. As well, the plight of populations and species due to humans is described in multiple chapters, with the goal that an understanding of behavior can help to solve or alleviate at least some human-made problems.

PART I: Patterns of Odontocete Ethology and Behavioral Ecology

Chapter 1. Grouping Behaviors of Dolphins and Other Toothed Whales
Chapter 2. Communication by Sound, and by Visual, Tactile, and Chemical Sensing
Chapter 3. Social Ecology of Feeding in an Open Ocean
Chapter 4. Sexual Strategies: Male and Female Mating Tactics
Chapter 5. Maternal Care and Offspring Development in Odontocetes
Chapter 6. Movement Patterns of Odontocetes Through Space and Time
Chapter 7. Predator/Prey Decisions and the Ecology of Fear
Chapter 8. Odontocete Social Strategies and Tactics Along and Inshore
Chapter 9. Oceanic Dolphin Societies: Diversity, Complexity and Conservation
Chapter 10. Odontocete Adaptations to Human Impact, and Vice Versa
PART II: Examples of Odontocete Ethology and Behavioral Ecology: Present Knowledge and Ways Forward
Chapter 11. Killer Whales: Behavior, Social Organization and Ecology of the Oceans' Apex Predators
Chapter 12. Sperm Whale: The Largest Toothed Creature on Earth
Chapter 13. Pilot Whales: Delphinid Matriarchies in Deep Seas
Chapter 14. Behavior and Ecology of Not-So-Social Odontocetes: Cuvier's and Blainville's Beaked Whales
Chapter 15. Common Bottlenose Dolphins Foraging: Behavioral Solutions that Incorporate Habitat Features and Social Associates
Chapter 16. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
Chapter 17. Spinner Dolphins of Islands and Atolls
Chapter 18. Dusky Dolphins of Continental Shelves and Deep Canyons
Chapter 19. Cetacean Sociality in Rivers, Lagoons, and Estuaries
Chapter 20. Hector's and Maui Dolphins: Small Shore-Living Delphinids with Disparate Social Structures
Chapter 21. Porpoises the World Over: Diversity in Behavior and Ecology
Chapter 22. Endangered Odontocetes and the Social Connection: Selected Examples of Species at Risk
Chapter 23. Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Odontocetes: Concluding Remarks.