PreprintCase ReportVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Antagonistic Behavior by Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus as Cause of Death for Two Burmeister’s Porpoises Phocoena spinipinnis, in Northern Chile
Version 1
: Received: 18 December 2023 / Approved: 18 December 2023 / Online: 18 December 2023 (12:53:21 CET)
How to cite:
Guerra-Correa, C.; Páez-Godoy, J.; Van Waerebeek, K. Antagonistic Behavior by Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus as Cause of Death for Two Burmeister’s Porpoises Phocoena spinipinnis, in Northern Chile. Preprints2023, 2023121338. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1338.v1
Guerra-Correa, C.; Páez-Godoy, J.; Van Waerebeek, K. Antagonistic Behavior by Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus as Cause of Death for Two Burmeister’s Porpoises Phocoena spinipinnis, in Northern Chile. Preprints 2023, 2023121338. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1338.v1
Guerra-Correa, C.; Páez-Godoy, J.; Van Waerebeek, K. Antagonistic Behavior by Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus as Cause of Death for Two Burmeister’s Porpoises Phocoena spinipinnis, in Northern Chile. Preprints2023, 2023121338. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1338.v1
APA Style
Guerra-Correa, C., Páez-Godoy, J., & Van Waerebeek, K. (2023). Antagonistic Behavior by Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus as Cause of Death for Two Burmeister’s Porpoises Phocoena spinipinnis, in Northern Chile. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1338.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Guerra-Correa, C., Jorge Páez-Godoy and Koen Van Waerebeek. 2023 "Antagonistic Behavior by Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus as Cause of Death for Two Burmeister’s Porpoises Phocoena spinipinnis, in Northern Chile" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1338.v1
Abstract
We present the first evidence of lethal interspecific aggressive behavior against Burmeister’s porpoise Phocoena spinipinnis, in a non-predatory context, and the first indications of such behavior in a cetacean from Chilean waters. Two cases, both adult males, are described. Analysis of the fresh tooth rakes, specifically the inter-rake distance, points to common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus as aggressor. Interdental distances measured on skulls allowed us to exclude Orcinus orca, Globicephala melas, Lagenorhynchus obscurus and Pseudorca crassidens. Evidence of severe blunt trauma, including extensive subdermal hematomas, rupture of pleura and extrusion of lung parenchyma, underscores the level of violent aggression. The reason is unknown but Tursiops truncatus is well-documented to occasionally harass and kill harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena in the Northern Hemisphere. Considering the scarce information available on the biology and behavioral ecology of Burmeister’s porpoises in Chile and elsewhere, we recommend more systematic field research. Also, as to help formulate effective management measures that can mitigate the main threat for this species in Chile (as in Peru), i.e. fisheries interactions. In Chile, P. spinipinnis is classified as Data Deficient (D.S. N°06-2017), so its real conservation status is unknown.
Keywords
mortality; Phocoenidae; small cetaceans; strandings; Southeast Pacific Ocean
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Behavioral Sciences
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
