scholarly journals First record of Blainville's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris in Fiji

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Leslie ◽  
Aisake Batibasaga ◽  
Diana S. Weber ◽  
David Olson ◽  
Howard C. Rosenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
First Record ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
Local Residents

LIttle Is known about the conservation status and geographic range of beaked whales. This note provides the first record of a Blainville's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris in Fijian waters, and contributes to the available knowledge of a species poorly known in the South Pacific region. On 11 November 2003, a female beaked whale stranded near Viti Levu, Fiji. A lack of suitable references and unfamiliarity with diagnostic morphological characters inhibited species identification at the time of stranding. However, we were able to identify this specimen by using molecular genetic information and applying a diagnostic character approach. DNA sequences from the unknown specimen exhibited nucleotide character states that unambiguously identified it as a Blainville's Beaked Whale. Unfortunately, a lack of associated data collected in this particular event emphasizes a common situation around the world: untrained or poorly equipped personnel (municipalities, governmental agencies or local residents) must manage stranded marine mammals out of necessity. However, information from these events or opportunistic beach surveys assists In furthering research of conservation status and management needs.

scholarly journals First stranding record of a Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) on the island of Barbuda, Eastern Caribbean

10.5597/00245 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 23-25
Author(s):  
Wojtek Bachara ◽  
Martha Watkins Gilkes ◽  
Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez ◽  
Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni
Keyword(s):  
First Record ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Ziphius Cavirostris ◽  
Eastern Caribbean ◽  
Cuvier’S Beaked Whale

Cuvier's beaked whale is the most cosmopolitan of the beaked whales and is found in all oceans except in the high polar waters. This species is known from over 1800 strandings. In the Caribbean strandings are rare, and we present a first record from Antigua and Barbuda.

scholarly journals Short Communication: Species confirmation of juvenile cloudy grouper, Epinephelus erythrurus (Valenciennes, 1828), based on a morphologic analysis and partial CO1 gene sequencing

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 914-921
Author(s):  
YANTI ARIYANTI ◽  
ACHMAD FARAJALLAH
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Description ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Genetic Technique ◽  
Morphologic Analysis ◽  
Identification Techniques ◽  
Molecular Genetic Technique

Abstract. Ariyanti Y, Farajallah A. 2019. Species confirmation of juvenile cloudy grouper, Epinephelus erythrurus (Valenciennes, 1828), based on a morphologic analysis and partial CO1 gene sequencing. Biodiversitas 20: 914-921. The genus Epinephelus is the most species among the genera within the subfamily Epinephelinae. Species identification techniques for groupers, especially in the Epinephelus, are commonly based on color patterns and a suite of morphological characters, including body shape and the size and number of fins, scales and gill rakers. In some species, juveniles are morphologically distinct from adults of the same species, making morphological identification highly problematic. This present work will provide some morphological description or variations of juveniles that have been identified as Epinephelus erythrurus based on CO1 sequences. Further, the present study demonstrates that a molecular genetic technique, based on partial sequencing of the mitochondrial CO1 gene, may be used for the rapid species confirmation of every developmental stage and phase of an organism (juvenile E. erythrurus). Two DNA sequences of E. erythrurus from the Pangandaran District (7o43’8.31”S 108o30’11.59”E) have been submitted to GenBank under accession numbers KP998441 and KP998442.

scholarly journals Temporal patterns in the acoustic signals of beaked whales at Cross Seamount

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.W Johnston ◽  
M McDonald ◽  
J Polovina ◽  
R Domokos ◽  
S Wiggins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
Fisheries Acoustics ◽  
Acoustic Recording

Seamounts may influence the distribution of marine mammals through a combination of increased ocean mixing, enhanced local productivity and greater prey availability. To study the effects of seamounts on the presence and acoustic behaviour of cetaceans, we deployed a high-frequency acoustic recording package on the summit of Cross Seamount during April through October 2005. The most frequently detected cetacean vocalizations were echolocation sounds similar to those produced by ziphiid and mesoplodont beaked whales together with buzz-type signals consistent with prey-capture attempts. Beaked whale signals occurred almost entirely at night throughout the six-month deployment. Measurements of prey presence with a Simrad EK-60 fisheries acoustics echo sounder indicate that Cross Seamount may enhance local productivity in near-surface waters. Concentrations of micronekton were aggregated over the seamount in near-surface waters at night, and dense concentrations of nekton were detected across the surface of the summit. Our results suggest that seamounts may provide enhanced foraging opportunities for beaked whales during the night through a combination of increased productivity, vertical migrations by micronekton and local retention of prey. Furthermore, the summit of the seamount may act as a barrier against which whales concentrate prey.

scholarly journals Longman’s Beaked Whale Indopacetus pacificus and Mesoplodon spp. Entanglements Off Pakistan: Are Pelagic Gillnet Fisheries a Potential Threat?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shoaib Kiani ◽  
Rab Nawaz ◽  
Muhammad Moazzam ◽  
Bushra Shafiq ◽  
Koen Van Waerebeek
Keyword(s):  
Arabian Sea ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Video Quality ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Beaked Whales

Beaked whales (Ziphiidae) are rarely reported in the Arabian Sea. Four new cases (five individuals) were documented in deep waters offshore Pakistan through a pilot programme in 2015-2018 where trained fishers video-recorded net entanglements in the pelagic tuna drift gillnet fishery. Videos were analysed frame-by-frame. The large body size (est. 5-6m) of one specimen, its moderately bulbous melon, long tubular rostrum and a large falcate dolphin-like dorsal fin, indicated Longman’s beaked whale Indopacetus pacificus. It represents the first record for Pakistan (EEZ), and with a stranding at Gujarat, India, a second for the northern Arabian Sea. The other 4 ziphiids were significantly smaller (est. 3– 4.5m), with a decidedly non-bulbous melon, variable short to moderately short rostra, falcate to subtriangular dorsal fin and a nondescript greyish colouration, identified as Mesoplodon spp. Video quality was poor but none of the specimens showed tusks, arched mandible lines or noticeable linear tooth rakes, practically excluding adult males. The successful release of all net-entangled beaked whales is unprecedented. The simultaneous bycatch of two mesoplodonts in the same net set is equally exceptional. This citizen science strategy adds to our understanding of the distribution of I. pacificus and mesoplodonts, which may be more common in the Arabian Sea than the scarce literature suggests. If significant bycatch of beaked whales is confirmed, the massive tuna gillnet fishing effort in the Arabian Sea could have negative implications for their conservation status.

scholarly journals First record of the Holarctic least shrew (Sorex minutissimus) and associated helminths from Canada: new light on northern Pleistocene refugia

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 367-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Cook ◽  
Bryan S. McLean ◽  
Donavan J. Jackson ◽  
Jocelyn P. Colella ◽  
Stephen E. Greiman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
New Record ◽  
Far East ◽  
First Record ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Dna Variation ◽  
The Last Glacial Maximum ◽  
The Last Glacial

We report the first Canadian record of the Holarctic least shrew (Sorex minutissimus Zimmermann, 1780) and associated helminth worms, collected along the Dempster Highway in central Yukon in 2014. We identify the specimen based on morphological characters, characterize the habitat, report other mammals and helminth species associated with this specimen, and use mitochondrial DNA sequences to place the specimen within a phylogenetic context and address Pleistocene refugial hypotheses. Although long considered an Eurasian endemic, the diminutive least shrew was first reported from Alaska in 1994. Our new record for Canada indicates that the species may occur at least as far east as the MacKenzie River and DNA variation suggests this species persisted only in the Beringian refugium in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum. The discovery of a new mammal and associated parasites for Canada points to the urgent need for more detailed information on high-latitude biotas in North America, data that are best obtained through museum-based field surveys, particularly for small, cryptic species.

First record of a rare beaked whale Mesoplodon hotaula in the Philippines

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Krisha M. Lacsamana ◽  
Minerva Fatimae H. Ventolero ◽  
Darrell Blatchley ◽  
Mudjekeewis D. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Cytochrome B ◽  
Control Region ◽  
First Record ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Beaked Whale ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Control Region ◽  
The Family ◽  
The World ◽  
Beaked Whales

Beaked whales of the Family Ziphiidae are the least known of all cetacean families. Here, using mitochondrial DNA Control Region and Cytochrome B, and supported by morphological comparisons of skull and teeth, we identified a 4.6 m female beaked whale, stranded in Maco, Compostela Valley, Philippines on December 19 2012, as the Deranayigala's beaked whale,Mesoplodon hotaula. This is the first record ofM. hotaulain the Philippines and only the eighth specimen in the world.

New Findings on Scrophularia sect. Mimulopsis (Scrophulariaceae) from Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-247
Author(s):  
Massoud Ranjbar ◽  
Narges Rahchamani
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Northern Iran ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Tehran Province ◽  
Micromorphological Characters ◽  
A New Species

Scrophularia dianatnejadii Ranjbar & Rahchamani, a new species from Tehran Province in northern Iran, is described and illustrated. It is closely related to S. amplexicaulis Benth. and shares with it some diagnostic morphological characters such as habit, plant indument, phyllotaxy, and corolla shape and color. Both species are placed in Scrophularia L. sect. Mimulopsis Boiss. Macro- and micromorphological characters of the two are examined and compared. Pollen morphology of these species is investigated using SEM. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, and conservation status of both species are provided.

Systematics, Biogeography, and Morphological Character Evolution of the Hemiepiphytic Subfamily Monsteroideae (Araceae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Zuluaga ◽  
Martin Llano ◽  
Ken Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
R Package ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Ancestral State ◽  
Seed Shape ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
And Migration ◽  
The Tropics

The subfamily Monsteroideae (Araceae) is the third richest clade in the family, with ca. 369 described species and ca. 700 estimated. It comprises mostly hemiepiphytic or epiphytic plants restricted to the tropics, with three intercontinental disjunctions. Using a dataset representing all 12 genera in Monsteroideae (126 taxa), and five plastid and two nuclear markers, we studied the systematics and historical biogeography of the group. We found high support for the monophyly of the three major clades (Spathiphylleae sister to Heteropsis Kunth and Rhaphidophora Hassk. clades), and for six of the genera within Monsteroideae. However, we found low rates of variation in the DNA sequences used and a lack of molecular markers suitable for species-level phylogenies in the group. We also performed ancestral state reconstruction of some morphological characters traditionally used for genera delimitation. Only seed shape and size, number of seeds, number of locules, and presence of endosperm showed utility in the classification of genera in Monsteroideae. We estimated ancestral ranges using a dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis model as implemented in the R package BioGeoBEARS and found evidence for a Gondwanan origin of the clade. One tropical disjunction (Monstera Adans. sister to Amydrium Schott–Epipremnum Schott) was found to be the product of a previous Boreotropical distribution. Two other disjunctions are more recent and likely due to long-distance dispersal: Spathiphyllum Schott (with Holochlamys Engl. nested within) represents a dispersal from South America to the Pacific Islands in Southeast Asia, and Rhaphidophora represents a dispersal from Asia to Africa. Future studies based on stronger phylogenetic reconstructions and complete morphological datasets are needed to explore the details of speciation and migration within and among areas in Asia.

First record of Norwegian killer whales attacking and feeding on a harbour porpoise

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mel Cosentino
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
First Record ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Northern Bottlenose Whales

Orcinus orcais a cosmopolitan species and the most widely distributed marine mammal. Its diet includes over 140 species of fish, cephalopods, sea birds and marine mammals. However, many populations are specialised on certain specific prey items. Three genetically distinct populations have been described in the North Atlantic. Population A (that includes the Icelandic and Norwegian sub-populations) is believed to be piscivorous, as is population C, which includes fish-eating killer whales from the Strait of Gibraltar. In contrast, population B feeds on both fish and marine mammals. Norwegian killer whales follow the Norwegian spring spawning herring stock. The only description in the literature of Norwegian killer whales feeding on another cetacean species is a predation event on northern bottlenose whales in 1968. Daily land-based surveys targeting sperm whales were conducted from the Andenes lighthouse using BigEyes®binoculars (25×, 80 mm). The location of animals at sea was approximated through the use of an internal reticule system and a graduated wheel. On 24 June 2012 at 3:12 am, an opportunistic sighting of 11 killer whales was made off Andenes harbour. The whales hunted and fed on a harbour porpoise. Despite these species having overlapping distributions in Norwegian waters, this is the first predatory event reported in the literature.

scholarly journals Cetacean strandings along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua from 2014 to 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joëlle De Weerdt ◽  
Eric Angel Ramos ◽  
Etienne Pouplard ◽  
Marc Kochzius ◽  
Phillip Clapham
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Toothed Whale ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
Causes Of Mortality ◽  
Cuvier’S Beaked Whale ◽  
Stenella Attenuata

AbstractDocumenting marine mammal strandings provides important information needed to understand the occurrence and distribution patterns of species. Here, we report on strandings of cetaceans on the Pacific (n = 11) and Caribbean (n = 2) coasts of Nicaragua, documented opportunistically from 2014 to 2021. Strandings included three species of baleen whale (blue whale Balaenoptera musculus, Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni, humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae) and five species of toothed whale (dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima, Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis, pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata, spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris, Cuvier’s beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris). These are the first published accounts of blue whales, Bryde’s whales, dwarf sperm whales, and Cuvier’s beaked whales in Nicaraguan waters. Limited resources and the advanced decomposition of animals prevented necropsies in most cases, the identification of the causes of mortality in all cases, and the species identification of two dolphins. Information derived from these stranding events offers new insights into the occurrence of marine mammals on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua and Central America.

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