1. Clymene dolphins (Stenella clymene) in the eastern tropical Atlantic: distribution, group size, and pigmentation pattern
- Author
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Caroline R. Weir, Phil Coles, Els Vermeulen, Matt Edwards, Andy C. Williams, Juliet Vines, Maren Reichelt, Sue Travers, Mike Ambler, Guus Hak, Rob W. Leslie, Dave Wall, Mike Betenbaugh, Mick Baines, Barrie Rose, Heather M. Tabisola, Amy Ferguson, Lea Fennelly, Terji Juul, Duncan May, Sigbjørn Haaland, Brian McNamara, Hugo Félix, Inês Figueirdo, Alexandra Teixeira, Jaclyn A. Smith, Luis Goncalves, Nichola Russell, Marijke N. de Boer, and Valeria A. A. Azhakesan
- Subjects
Shore ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Ecology ,biology ,Stenella clymene ,Continental shelf ,Tropical Atlantic ,biology.organism_classification ,Bycatch ,Oceanography ,Beak ,Genetics ,Conservation status ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Flipper ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Nature and Landscape Conservation - Abstract
The Clymene dolphin (Stenella clymene) is endemic to warm Atlantic Ocean waters and is one of the least known delphinids. We reviewed existing published data (primarily strandings, captures, and bycatch) and unpublished sightings to examine the distribution, habitat, group size, seasonality, and pigmentation patterns of Clymene dolphins within the eastern tropical Atlantic (ETA). Following photographic verification, 84 confirmed and 8 probable at-sea sightings of ETA Clymene dolphins were analyzed. The documented records ranged from ~198N in central Mauritania to 14826 0 S in southern Angola, confirming 14 ETA range states. At-sea sightings occurred in water depths of 437–5,000 m and at distances from shore of 21–937 km, corresponding with a continental slope and oceanic habitat. Sightings within the wider ETA region had year-round occurrence. Group size ranged from 3–1,000 animals, with 60.9% of groups comprising � 50 animals. Photographic examination revealed a complex and variable pigmentation pattern in ETA Clymene dolphins, which contrasts with the simple tripartite pattern often described for this species. In particular, most ETA animals had a dark gray lateral stripe extending diagonally along the flank from the beak to the genital area and a conspicuous dark gray eye– flipper stripe of varying intensity and thickness. The at-sea sightings documented here significantly extend current knowledge of the distribution, ecology, and appearance of the Clymene dolphin.
- Published
- 2014
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