Abstract
Abstract
Despite attacks of bottlenose dolphins towards conspecifics and other species of dolphins being reported worldwide, inside the Mediterranean Sea these behaviours are still considered sporadic and have been, to date, only recorded in Spain and France, mostly directed to striped dolphins. In this work, we reported the necropsy outcomes of a dead striped dolphin that suggest a fatal interaction with bottlenose dolphins inside the Italian side of the Pelagos Sanctuary, Western Ligurian Sea. Results from the post-mortem examination showed multiple, multifocal external rake marks spaced 1–1.2 cm and several internal injuries, consisting of subcutaneous and muscular haematomas and haemorrhages, multiple vertebral and rib fractures, haemothorax and lung laceration. The inter-tooth distance and all the internal findings were consistent with a fatal traumatic interaction with bottlenose dolphins as reported in similar cases in other parts of the world where the same results were found. No other significant gross and microscopic findings and concurrent significant pathogens were detected. This case highlights the existence of negative interspecific interactions in an area where they have never been reported before and adds new important information to the literature for understanding their occurrence, expanding the geographical range of observation in the western Mediterranean Sea.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Reference64 articles.
1. Distribution, abundance, and movements of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Pelagos Sanctuary MPA (north-west Mediterranean Sea);Gnone;Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems,2011
2. Long-term changes (1990–2012) in the diet of striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba from the western Mediterranean;Aznar;Marine Ecology Progress Series,2017
3. C.Re.Di.Ma (2016) Italian Diagnostic Report on Stranded Cetaceans. Available at https://www.izsplv.it/components/com_publiccompetitions/includes/download.php?id=863:report_diagnostica_spiaggiamenti_2016.pdf (Accessed online 17 December 2022).
4. Spatial segregation and interspecific killing of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus);Methion;Acta Ethologica,2021
5. Interspecies interaction between Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, on Great Bahama Bank, Bahamas;Herzing;Aquatic Mammals,2003
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献