External morphology of the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis: Growth, allometric relationships and sexual dimorphism

Acta Zoologica

Volumn 87, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 315-329

  Murphy, Sinéad ^a,b   Rogan, Emer ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK   (Ireland)

Author keywords

Cetaceans; Common dolphin; Delphinus delphis; Gompertz growth curve; Morphometrics

Indexed keywords

AGE STRUCTURE; ANALYTICAL METHOD; BODY SHAPE; DOLPHIN; GROWTH CURVE; GROWTH RATE; MEASUREMENT METHOD; MORPHOLOGY; SEXUAL DIMORPHISM;

EURASIA; EUROPE; IRELAND; WESTERN EUROPE;

CETACEA; DELPHINUS DELPHIS;

EID: 33748916003     PISSN: 00017272     EISSN: 14636395     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2006.00245.x     Document Type: Article

References (75)

1. Amaha, A. 1994. Geographic Variation of the Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis (Odontoceti: Delphinidae). PhD Thesis, Tokyo University of Fisheries, Tokyo, Japan.
2. Amano, M. and Miyazaki, N. 1993. External morphology of the Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli ): growth and sexual dimorphism. - Canadian Journal of Zoology 71: 1124-1130.
3. Berrow, S. D. and Rogan, E. 1997. Review of cetaceans stranded on the Irish coast, 1901-95. - Mammal Review 27: 51-76.
4. Berrow, S. D., Whooley, P. and Ferriss, S. 2002. Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Cetacean Sighting Review (1991-2001). Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Publications.
5. Bloch, D. and Lastein, L. 1993. Morphometric segregation of long-finned pilot whales on the Eastern and Western North Atlantic. - Ophelia 38: 55-68.
6. Bloch, D., Lockyer, C. and Zachariassen, M. 1993. Age and growth parameters of the long-finned pilot whale off the Faroe Islands. In Donovan, G. P., Lockyer, C. and Martin, A. R. (Eds): Biology of Northern Hemisphere Pilot Whales, Special Issue 14, pp. 163-207. International Whaling Commission, Cambridge, UK.
7. Calzada, N. and Aguilar, A. 1995. Geographical variation of body size in Western Mediterranean striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoabla). - Zeitschrift Fur Saeugetierkunde 60: 257-264.
8. Chivers, S. J. 2002. Cetacean life history. In Perrin, W. F., Wursig, B. and Thewissen, J. G. M. (Eds): Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, pp. 221-225. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
9. Clark, S. T., Odell, D. K. and Lacinak, C. T. 2000. Aspects of growth in captive killer whales (Orcinus orca). - Marine Mammal Science 16: 110-123.
10. Collet, A. 1981. Biologie du Dauphin commun Delphinus delphis L. en Atlantique Nord-Est. PhD Thesis. Universite de Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
11. Connor, R. C., Read, A. J. and Wrangham, R. 2000. Male reproductive strategies and social bonds. In Mann, J., Connor, R. C., Tyack, P. L. and Whitehead, H. (Eds): Cetacean Societies, pp. 247-269. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
12. Danil, K. 2004. Growth and reproduction of female short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, in the eastern tropical Pacific. MSc Thesis, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
13. Di-Meglio, N., Romero-Alvarez, R. R. and Collet, A. 1996. Growth comparison in striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of France. - Aquatic Mammals 22.1: 11-21.
14. Evans, W. E. 1975. Distribution, Differentiation of Populations, and Other Aspects of the Natural History of Delphinus delphis Linnaeus in the Northeastern Pacific. PhD Thesis. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
15. Evans, P. G. H. 1982a. Associations between seabirds and cetaceans: a review. - Mammal Review 12: 187-206.
16. Evans, W. E. 1982b. Distribution and differentiation of stocks of Delphinus delphis Linnaeus in the northeastern Pacific. In Mammals in the Seas. FAO fisheries Series No. 5, Volume IV, pp. 45-66. Food and Agriculture organisations of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
17. Evans, W. E. 1994. Common dolphin, White-bellied porpoise Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758. In Ridgway, S. H. and Harrison, R. J. (Eds): Handbook of Marine Mammals, Vol. 5, The First Book of Dolphins, pp. 191-224. Academic Press, London, UK.
18. Ferrero, R. C. and Walker, W. A. 1995. Growth and reproduction of the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, in the offshore waters of the North Pacific Ocean. - Fisheries Bulletin (Wash., D.C.) 93: 483-494.
19. Ferrero, R. C. and Walker, W. 1996. Age, growth and reproduction of the Pacific white sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) taken in high seas drift nets in the central North Pacific Ocean. - Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1673-1687.
20. Fitzhugh, H. A. Jr. 1975. Analysis of growth curves and strategies for altering their shape. - Journal of Animal Science 42: 1036-1051.
21. Fraser, F. C. 1934. Report on Cetacea stranded on the British coasts from 1927 to 1932. 11. British Museum (Natural History), London.
22. Fraser, F. C. 1946. Report on Cetacea stranded on the British coasts from 1933 to 1937. 12. British Museum (Natural History), London.
23. Fraser, F. C. 1974. Report on Cetacea stranded on the British coasts from 1948 to 1966. 14. British Museum (Natural History), London.
24. Gao, A., Zhou, K. and Wang, Y. 1995. Geographical variation in morphology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in Chinese waters. - Aquatic Mammals 21.2: 121-135.
25. Goujon, M., Antoine, L. and Collet, A. 1993a. Incidental Catches of Cetaceans by the French Albacore Tuna Driftnet Fishery: Preliminary Results. CM 1993/N:13. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen, Denmark.
26. Goujon, M., Antoine, L., Collet, A. and Fifas, S. 1993b. Approche de l'mpact de la ecologique de la pecherie thoniere au filet maillant derivant en Atlantique nord-est. Rapport interne se al Direction des Resources Vivantes de I'IFREMER. Ifremer, Centre de Brest, BP 70, 29280 Plouzane, France.
27. Goujon, M., Antoine, L., Collet, A. and Fifas, S. 1994. A study of the ecological impact of the French tuna driftnet fishery in the Northeast Atlantic. In Evans, P. G. H. (Ed.): European Research on Cetaceans - 8. Proceedings of the 8th Ann Conference ECS, Montpellier, France, 2-5 March 1994, pp. 47-48. European Cetacean Society, Cambridge, UK.
28. Gurevich, V. S., Stewart, B. S. and Cornell, L. H. 1980. The use of tetracycline in age determination of common dolphins, Delphinus delphis. In Perrin, W. F. and Myrick, A. C. (Eds): Age Determination of Toothed Whales and Sirenians, Special Issue 3, pp. 165-169. International Whaling Commission, Cambridge.
29. Harmer, S. F. 1927. Report on Cetacea Stranded on the British Coasts from 1913 to 1926. 10. British Museum (Natural History), London.
30. Harwood, J., Berggren, P., Carlstrom, J., Northridge, S., Larsen, F., Tillman, J., McGlade, J., Mackey, M. and Rogan, E. 1999. Assessment and Reduction of the Bycatch of Small Cetaceans in European Waters. Report to the European Commission on contract CT05-0523.
31. Heyning, J. E. and Perrin, W. F. 1994. Evidence or two species of common dolphins (genus Delphinus) from the eastern North Pacific. - Contributions in Science (Los Angeles) 442: 1-35.
32. Hohn, A. A. and Hammond, P. S. 1985. Early postnatal growth of the spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata, in the offshore eastern tropical pacific. - Fisheries Bulletin (Wash., D.C.) 83: 553-556.
33. Hugget, A. S. G. and Widdas, W. F. 1951. The relationship between mammalian foetal weight and conception age. - Journal of Physiology 114: 306-317.
34. Hui, C. A. 1979. Correlates of maturity in the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis. - Fisheries Bulletin (Wash., D.C.) 77: 295-300.
35. Jefferson, T. A. 1990. Sexual dimorphism and development of external features in Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli. - Fisheries Bulletin (Wash., D.C.) 88: 119-132.
36. Jefferson, T. A., Pitman, R. L., Leatherwood, S. and Dolar, M. L. L. 1997. Development and sexual variation in the external appearance of Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei ). - Aquatic Mammals 23.3: 145-153.
37. Jefferson, T. A. and Van Waerebeek, K. 2002. The taxonomic status of the nominal dolphin species Delphinus tropicalis van Bree, 1971. - Marine Mammal Science 18: 787-818.
38. Kato, H. and Sakuramoto, K. 1991. Age at sexual maturity of southern minke whales: a review and some additional analyses. - Report of the International Whaling Commission 41: 331-337.
39. Klevezal, G. A. 1996. Recording structures of mammals: determination of age and reconstruction of life history. A.A. Balkema Publishers, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
40. Laird, A. K. 1966. Postnatal growth of birds and mammals. - Growth 30: 349-363.
41. Lawton, J. H. 1989. What is the relationship between population density and body size in mammals? Oikos 55: 429-434.
42. Leatherwood, S., Reeves, R. R., Perrin, W. F. and Evans, W. E. 1988. Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises of the Eastern North Pacific and Adjacent Artic Waters: A Guide to Their Identification. Dover Publications, New York.
43. Lewis, T. 1991. The development of a postanal hump in male common dolphins, Delphinus delphis. In Abstracts of the 9th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Chicago. Society of Marine Mammology. December 5-9, 1991, Chicago, IL, USA.
44. Lockyer, C. 1984. Review of baleen whale (Mysticeti) reproduction and implications for management. In Perrin, W. F., Brownell Jr., R. L. and DeMaster, D. P. (Eds): Reproduction of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Special Issue 6, pp. 27-50. International Whaling Commission, Cambridge, UK.
45. Lockyer, C. 1995. A review of factors involved in zonation in odontocete teeth, and an investigation of the likely impact of environmental factors and major life events on harbour porpoise tooth structure. In Bjorge A. and Donovan G. P. (Eds): Biology of the Phocoenids, pp. 511-529. International Whaling Commission, Cambridge, UK.
46. McLellan, W. A., Koopman, H. N., Rommel, S. A., Read, A. J., Potter, C. W., Nicolas, J. R., Westgate, A. J. and Pabst, D. A. 2002. Ontogenetic allometry and body composition of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena L.) from the western North Atlantic. - Journal of Zoology 257: 457-471.
47. Morizur, Y., Berrow, S. D., Tregenza, N. J. C., Couperus, A. S. and Pouvreau, S. 1999. Incidental catches of marine mammals in pelagic trawl fisheries of the northeast Atlantic. - Fisheries Research 41: 297-307.
48. Murphy, S. 2004. The Biology and Ecology of the Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis in the Northeast Atlantic. PhD Thesis. University College Cork, Ireland.
49. Murphy, S. 2006. Sexual dimorphism in cranial measurements of Delphinus delphis in the eastern North Atlantic. - Marine Mammal Science, Online Document 22 (3): 1-4.
50. Murphy, S., Collet, A. and Rogan, E. 2005. Mating strategy in the male common dolphin (Delphinus delphis): What gonadal analysis tells us. - Journal of Mammalogy 86 (6): 1247-1258.
51. Murphy, S., Herman, J. S., Pierce, G. J., Rogan, E. and Kitchener, A. J. 2006. Taxonomic status and geographical variation of common dolphins (Delphinus) in the eastern North Atlantic. - Marine Mammal Science 22 (3): 573-599.
52. Natoli, A., Canadas, A. and Hoelzel, A. R. 2003. Patterns of Population Subdivision and Genetic Variability of Common Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) and Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Eastern North Atlantic. Report of the International Whaling Commission, no. SC/55/SM11, Cambridge, UK.
53. Neumann, D. R., Russell, K., Orams, M. B., Baker, C. S. and Duignan, P. 2002. Identifying sexually mature, male short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) at sea, based on the presence of a postanal hump. - Aquatic Mammals 28: 181-187.
54. Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. E. 2002. Cetaceans of the Mediterranean and Black Seas: State of Knowledge and Conservations Strategies. A report to the ACCOBAMS Secretariat, Monaco.
55. Ó Cadhla, O., Mackey, M., Aguilar de Soto, N., Rogan, E. and Connolly, N. 2003. Cetaceans and Seabirds of Ireland's Atlantic Margin. Volume II - Cetacean Distribution & Abundance. Report on research conducted under the 1997 Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP): Rockall Studies Group (RSG) projects 98/6, 99/38 and 00/13, Coastal and Marine Resources Center, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
56. Pabst, D. A. 1990. Axial muscles and connective tissues of the bottlenose dolphin. In Leatherwood, S. and Reeves, R. R. (Eds): The Bottlenose Dolphin, pp. 51-67. Academic Press, New York.
57. Perrin, W. F. 1975. Variation of spotted and spinner porpoise (genus Stenella) in the eastern Pacific and Hawaii. - Bulletin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California 21: 1-206.
58. Perrin, W. F. 1984. Patterns of geographical variation in small cetaceans. - Acta Zoologica Fennica 172: 137-140.
59. Perrin, W. F. 2002. Common Dolphins Delphinus delphis, D. capensis and D. tropicalis. In Perrin, W. F., Wursig, B. and Thewissen, J. G. M. (Eds): Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, pp. 245-248. Academic Press, London.
60. Perrin, W. F. and Mesnick, S. L. 2003. Sexual ecology of the spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris: geographic variation in mating system. - Marine Mammal Science 19: 462-483.
61. Pollock, C. M., Reid, J. B., Webb, A. and Tasker, M. L. 1997. The Distribution of Seabirds and Cetaceans in the Waters around Ireland. JNCC Report No. 267. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, UK.
62. Read, A. J. and Tolley, K. A. 1997. Postnatal growth and allometry of harbour porpoises from the Bay of Fundy. - Canadian Journal of Zoology 75: 122-130.
63. Read, A. J., Wells, R. S., Hohn, A. A. and Scott, M. D. 1993. Patterns of growth in wild bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. - Journal of Zoology 231: 107-123.
64. Reeves, R. R., Smith, B. D., Crespo, E. A. and Notarbartolo Di Sciara, G. 2003. Dolphins, Whales and Porpoises: 2002-2010 Conservation Action Plan for the World's Cetaceans. IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK.
65. Rice, D. W. 1989. Sperm whale. Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758. In Harrison R. J. and Ridgway S. H. (Eds): Handbook of Marine Mammals, Vol. 4, River Dolphins and the Larger Toothed Whales, pp. 177-233. Academic Press, London.
66. Rogan, E., Penrose, R., Gassner, I., Mackey, M. J. and Clayton, P. 2001. Marine Mammal Strandings. A Collaborative Study for the Irish Sea. Maritime Ireland/Wales INTERREG Report No. 8.
67. Rosenzweig, M. L. 1968. The strategy of body size in mammalian carnivores. - American Midland Naturalist 80: 299-315.
68. Ross, G. J. B. and Cockcroft, V. G. 1990. Comments on the Australian bottlenose dolphins and taxonomic status of Tursiops aduncus (Ehrenberg, 1832). In Leatherwood S. and Reeves, R. R. (Eds): The Bottlenose Dolphin, pp. 101-128. Academic Press, New York.
69. Sabin, R., Jepson, P. D., Reid, P. D. J., Chimindies, R. and Deaville, R. 2002. Trends in Cetacean Strandings around the UK Coastline and Marine Mammals Post-mortem Investigations for the Year 2002 (contract CRO 238). Report by the Natural History Museum to DEFRA NO. ECM 516F00/03.
70. Schmidt-Nielsen, K. 1993. Scaling: Why Is Animals Size So Important?. - Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
71. Silva, M. A. and Sequeira, M. 2003. Patterns in the mortality of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) on the Portugese coast, using strandings records 1975-98. - Aquatic Mammals 29.1: 88-98.
72. Stolen, M. K., Odell, D. K. and Barros, N. B. 2002. Growth of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon system, Florida, U.S.A. - Marine Mammal Science 18: 348-357.
73. Tolley, K. A., Read, A. J., Wells, R. S., Urian, K. W., Scott, M. D., Irvine, A. B. and Hohn, A. A. 1995. Sexual dimorphism in wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota. - Florida Journal of Mammalogy 76: 1190-1198.
74. Tregenza, N. J. C. and Collet, A. 1998. Common Dolphins Delphinus delphis bycatch in pelagic trawl and other fisheries in the North east Atlantic. - Report of the International Whaling Commission 48: 453-459.
75. Zar, J. H. 1996. Biostatistical Analysis, 3rd edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.