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Pathological changes found in the vertebrae of two harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) found along the North Sea shoreline of the Netherlands are described. One case can be diagnosed as intraspongious vertebral herniation of the nucleus pulposus (Schmorl’s node). The aetiology of Schmorl’s nodes is most probably resulting from idiopathic ischaemic (avascular) necrosis beneath the cartilaginous endplate, with secondary herniation of the nucleus pulposus into the vertebral body. The other case can be diagnosed as a severe case of spondylodiscitis, possibly resulting from an infection with Brucella ceti.

Recently, Kompanje et al. (2017) described the first known case of conjoined twin harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), a parapagus dicephalus, bycaught in the Southern North Sea (the Netherlands) in May 2017. Shortly after Kompanje et al. (2017) shared this unique find, another almost identical case of parapagus dicephalus conjoined twins in harbour porpoises came to our attention. It was published more than 120 years ago in the Liepãja German language daily newspaper, the Libauer Zeitung. To the best of our knowledge, this case remained unnoticed among zoologists till now.

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is the smallest and most abundant cetacean in NW European continental shelf waters. Their global abundance numbers at least ~700,000 individuals. Within the North Sea, total abundance has recently been estimated at approximately 345,000 animals. The species reproduces at a rate of one offspring every 1-2 years. In this article we describe a case of conjoined twins in the harbour porpoise: a parapagus dicephalus bycaught in the Southern North Sea in May 2017. Reports of conjoined twins in wild mammals are extremely scarce. This case concerns the second known case of twinning and the first case of conjoined twins in P. phocoena, the fourth known case of parapagus dicephalus in any cetacean species and the tenth known case of conjoined twinning in a cetacean species.

This article presents an annotated list of all known strandings and catches of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus (MONTAGU, 1821) from the Dutch coast and Dutch coastal waters. Between 1754 and 2000, 184 well documented reports and 179 insufficiently documented reports of a dead animal, six well documented catches and one well documented live stranding of bottlenose dolphins have become known. All well documented cases are either documented by skeletons and/or skulls or other remains kept in natural history museums, or by photographs or drawings of the stranded animal on the beach. The insufficiently documented cases are only known from verbal or written description by the finder. All skeletal material, specimens preserved in spirit, drawings, autopsy reports and photographs were examined by the author. The first case of a dicephalic monstrum in this species is described.

Recently collected bat specimens from the remote Moluccan and West-Papuan islands of Boano, Kasa, Haruku, Wai, Kri and Boo are described. The material consists of the following pteropodid species (localities between brackets): Rousettus amplexicaudatus (Kasa), Pteropus conspicillatus (Wai, Kri), Nyctimene cephalotes (Boano), Syconycteris australis (Haruku, Boano) and Macroglossus minimus (Boano, Boo). They all represent new island records. A specimen of Macroglossus minimus from the Boo Islands is described here as a subspecies new to science. Among the compararative material a recently collected specimen of Macroglossus minimus from the Tanimbar Islands was discovered. This also appeared to be a new island record for this species.

In this article five cases of intraspongious vertebral herniation of the nucleus pulposus (Schmorl's node) in harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena and one in a white-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albiro - stris are described. This condition has not previously been described for any cetacean species. Its etiology is most probably post-traumatic.

In the winter of 1987, 45 mute swans were found dead on the banks of the Grevelingenmeer (Lake Grevelingen) in The Netherlands. A total of 12 measurements on the specimens ‘in the flesh’ were taken in the field and later, after maceration, another eight measurements on the cleaned skulls were taken. The sex of all specimens was established anatomically. This article presents the results of the biometrical analysis of these measurements. The best method for establishing the sex of mute swans based on external measurements appeared to be the length of the middle toe. Several other measurements were examined and their usefulness for sexing is discussed. Mute swan specimens from the collection of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam were used to test the significance of the findings.

This article presents an annotated list of all known strandings of killer whales Orcin us orca Linnaeus, 1758 on the Dutch coast between 1783 and 1995.26 cases are recorded. Most of the cases are documented by skeletons and/or skulls kept in natural history museums. All material was examined by the author. Special attention was given to the amount of wear and infection of the teeth, fractures of the ribs, and vertebral anomalies. Pathological changes in the skeletons and teeth are also described.

Between October 1994 and January 1995 a total of 21 male sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus stranded on North Sea shores. Both individual and mass strandings took place. This article brieny reports data on these strandings. The social groups to which the whales belonged and the possible causes of the strandings arc shortly discussed.

In this article the skeleton of a 42 year old Borne an orang-utan Pengo pygmaeus pygmaeus (Linnaeus. 1760) is discussed. The typical pathological changes of the thoracic vertebrae are most consistent with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). This disease is well known in man, but to our knowledge this repon is the frrst description of a possible case of DISH in another mammal.

With the aim of studying the local malacofauna, the authors visited Skokholm_Island (Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK) in 1990 and 1991. In this paper, known data are supplemented by the results of the authors ' fieldwork. A total of 114 species were recorded; 49 are new records for Skokholm Island, of which four are also new for the Bristol Channel region. On the basis of the current results a marine reserve status for Skokholm is recommended.

Various infectious diseases are transferable from animal to man (zoonosis). Some of these, such as rabies and leptospirosis are severe, while others pass relatively mild. In zoological litterature these diseases and preventive measures against contamination are rarely described. The occurence of such infections among staff members of natural history museums is often due to carelessness and ignorance. Especially when collecting in the (sub )tropics, one takes a serious risk of getting infected. In this paper five zoonoses (Lyme disease, Rabies, Aspergillosis, Leptospirosis, Psittacosis/Omithosis) are described, including the natural history of the disease, geographical distribution, hosts, treatment, and consequences for staff members of natural history museums.

In toenemende mate wordt bij wetenschappelijk onderzoek gebruik gemaakt van computers om gegevens op te slaan en te bewerken. Ook in de ornithologie is dit het geval. In onderstaande bijdrage wordt het gebruik van een computer in een biometrisch onderzoek toegelicht.