Hematology distinguishes coastal and offshore forms of dolphins (Tursiops)

Abstract

Bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, can be separated into coastal and offshore ecotypes based upon hemoglobin levels, packed cell volumes, and red blood cell counts, the offshore form having higher values for all three measures. Captive-bred crosses between coastal and offshore types produce animals with intermediate hematologic profiles suggesting a significant genetic basis for these differences.