scholarly journals Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) in central-northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: stranding patterns and insights into feeding habits

10.5597/00228 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jailson Moura ◽  
Davi Castro Tavares ◽  
Helio K.C. Secco ◽  
Salvatore Siciliano
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
The Body ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Janeiro State

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) may be one of the best known dolphin species worldwide, principally due to its coastal distribution in many regions. However, few studies about ecology, biology and threats have been conducted on the Brazilian coast. The aim of the present work is to analyze the stranding pattern and stomach contents of bottlenose dolphins in the central-north coast of the Rio de Janeiro State, from Saquarema to São Francisco de Itabapoana (~300km of coast line). Forty nine stranding events were recorded through regular beach surveys from 1999 to 2012 and also through access to previous published studies conducted since 1984. The strandings were distributed throughout the study area, but there was a trend of occurrence in the extreme southern and northern regions. Nine specimens showed evidence of accidental mortality in fishing nets. The strandings were more frequently recorded during autumn and winter (χ2; p < 0.05). Male bottlenose dolphins stranded more often than females, showing significant differences in this relationship (χ2; p < 0.05). Most stranded dolphins were classified as adults (> 230cm of body length) (χ2; p < 0.05). The body length varied from 106 to 335cm. Four prey species were found in the stomach contents from the three specimens of bottlenose dolphin analyzed. The most representative prey species was the cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus). This study showed that bottlenose dolphins are frequently found dead along the Rio de Janeiro State where they feed mainly on coastal fish. Future studies need to be conducted to improve the knowledge on this poorly known cetacean in Brazil.

scholarly journals Notes on the diet of adult Yellow Catfish Aspistor luniscutis (Pisces: Siluriformes) in northern Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 13920-13924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Madeira Di Beneditto ◽  
Maria Thereza Manhães Tavares
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Yellow Catfish ◽  
Stomach Contents Analysis ◽  
Penaeid Shrimps ◽  
Brachyuran Crabs ◽  
Sciaenid Fish ◽  
Janeiro State

Diet of adult specimens of Yellow Catfish Aspistor luniscutis (Valenciennes, 1840) was determined through stomach contents analysis.  The specimens were target of commercial gillnet fisheries in northern Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil.  In this region, A. luniscutis is a generalist benthophagous feeder, consuming most available prey species with crustaceans, especially penaeid shrimps, brachyuran crabs, and sciaenid fish dominating. 

scholarly journals Movements of the bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 206-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliane Lodi ◽  
Leonardo Liberali Wedekin ◽  
Marcos Roberto Rossi-Santos ◽  
Milton César Marcondes
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Janeiro State

Aiming to verify the movements of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) at Rio de Janeiro State coast, southeastern Brazil, we performed a photoidentification comparison between the catalogued individuals of the Cagarras Archipelago (23° 02' S and 43° 12' W) in 2004 and 2006 (n = 26) and the images obtained (n = 179) during the Southeastern Cetaceans Expedition, conducted during months of June and November of 2005. Eight individuals (three females and five dolphins of unknown gender) identified in the Cagarras Archipelago were resighted in the Grande Island (23° 21'S and 44° 15' W), about 100 km southwestwards from Cagarras Archipelago. The observed movements include distances commonly recorded for the species elsewhere and are probably related to search for prey.

scholarly journals New Prey Fishes in Diet of Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus (Mammalia, Cetacea)

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Gladilina ◽  
P. E. Gol’din
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Horse Mackerel ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Abstract We report 7 new prey fishes in diet of the Black Sea bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) and the first records of 9 prey items from their stomach contents: herring (Alosa sp.), sand smelt (Atherina sp.), horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus), picarel (Spicara flexuosa), Mediterranean sand eel (Gymnammodytes cicerellus), Atlantic stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber), garfish (Belone belone), gobies (Gobiidae indet.) and blennies (Blenniidae indet.). Th e Atlantic stargazer was recorded as a prey species for the common bottlenose dolphin for the first time. Th e horse mackerel and the picarel, formerly recorded in the diet of Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins, now were frequently found in the examined Black Sea dolphins. Th e list of prey fishes for Black Sea bottlenose dolphins now includes 23 items, with many small pelagic and demersal fishes, and it is similar to that of Mediterranean dolphins. Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) is still an important prey species, as 50-70 years ago, whereas turbot (Psetta maeotica), not recorded by us, could lose its importance due to population decline. As before, red mullet (Mullus barbatus) is recorded in winter feeding. Feeding on mullets (Mugilidae) is not a universal trait, and it is possibly restricted to local geographical areas.

scholarly journals Object Manipulation and Play Behaviour in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabienne Delfour ◽  
Carly Faulkner ◽  
Toby Carter
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Enrichment Program ◽  
Human Care ◽  
Head Area

Cetaceans are well-known to display various play activities: numerous scientific papers have documented this phenomenon in wild populations and for delphinids under human care. The present study describes analyses of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) interactions with man-made objects introduced to their habitat as part of an environmental enrichment program. At Parc Asterix Delphinarium (France), 9 bottlenose dolphins were presented with 21 different objects. During 17 hours and using object-focal follows, we studied the dolphins’ behaviors directed toward the objects, according to the objects physical properties (i.e. complexity and buoyancy). We also documented the body parts the animals used to manipulate the objects. The results show that young dolphins displayed more playful actions towards the introduced objects than their older conspecifics. In general, subjects preferred the objects classified as simple and floating, they displayed a larger variety of behaviours, they spent more time and were more creative with them than with other types of objects. Finally, there was significantly more contact and “manipulation” with the dolphin head area than with the fins, fluke or other body parts. By analyzing the dolphins’ behaviors and actions they directed towards the introduced objects, the present study discusses meanings dolphins might give to their surroundings and the relevance of play behavior to their welfare.

scholarly journals Update on the current occurrence of Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) in Rio de Janeiro State

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 220-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian Lodi
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
The State ◽  
Current State ◽  
Janeiro State

This note reviews and updates records of bottlenose dolphin in Rio de Janeiro State, combining unpublished data with previously published information to evaluate the current state of knowledge of the occurrence of this species in the state.

Involution and Cystic Transformation of the Thymus in the Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus

1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 648-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Cowan
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Squamous Epithelium ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Lymphoid Cells ◽  
Texas Gulf Coast ◽  
Thymic Cysts

The thymus glands of 10 bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, collected along the Texas Gulf coast were examined using standard histologic and immunocytochemical methods. The thymus gland of Tursiops persists into adult life, represented by medulla and progressively thinning cortex. A network of epithelial cells, including Hassal bodies, is demonstrable using polyclonal anti-cytokeratin antibody. The network condenses, with loss of lymphoid cells as involution progresses. Cysts arise within the condensed network. These cysts, found in eight of 10 animals, increase in number and size with increasing body size. Body size tends to reflect age. Thymic cysts typically have an irregular shape when small but tend to become spherical as they enlarge. Theey may be lined by squamous epithelium of variable thickness. Eventually, the cysts become macroscopic and filled with a colloidlike material and may largely replace the thymus, which may be identified by noncystic remnants adjacent to the cysts.

scholarly journals Temporal and spatial variation on heavy metal concentrations in the oyster Ostrea equestris on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G Ferreira ◽  
A. L. S. Machado ◽  
I. R. Zalmon
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Janeiro State ◽  
Ostrea Equestris

Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentrations were determined by ICP-AES in Ostrea equestris from three beaches (Barra do Furado, Buena, and Ponta do Retiro) on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State. The average concentration was 0.8 ± 0.18, 0.4 ± 0.21, 58 ± 25.6, 249 ± 52.3, 11 ± 1.31, 0.55 ± 0.16, 0.13 ± 0.11, and 1131 ± 321 µg.g-1 dry weight for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn respectively. Significant spatial variation (p < 0.05) between the samples areas occurred for Cr, Pb, and Zn with higher values in Barra do Furado; and for Cu in Ponta do Retiro. Significant temporal variations (p < 0.05) were observed for all metals except Cu. Temporal variability may be related to changes in the inputs of metals associated with suspended particles. Concentrations were similar to those found in areas under low pollution impact, except for Zn, the high concentrations of which probably reflect the physiological characteristics of these organisms.

scholarly journals Temporal and spatial variation on heavy metal concentrations in the bivalve Perna perna (LINNAEUS, 1758) on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Gomes Ferreira ◽  
André Luís dos Santos Machado ◽  
Ilana Rosental Zalmon
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Perna Perna ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Janeiro State

Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) concentrations were studied in Perna perna from three beaches (Barra do Furado, Buena and Ponta do Retiro) on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State by ICP-AES. The average concentration was 0.3 ± 0.04 (Cd); 1.9 ± 0.6 (Cr); 6.1 ± 0.7 (Cu); 1,130 ± 113 (Fe); 22 ± 3.2 (Mn); 9.3 ± 4.6 (Ni); 0.4 ± 0.2 (Pb); 44 ± 5.8 (Zn) µg.g-1 dry weight. There were no significant difference for almost all the studied metals in relation to sex. Although, significant spatial variations (p < 0.05) occurred for Cr, Pb and Ni with higher values for Barra do Furado. Temporal variations were significant (p < 0.05) at the three beaches, however, no trends of accumulation were observed. The metal concentrations were similar to areas under low pollution impact, except for Fe, which was probably due to the local substrates enriched in iron oxides.

Stomach contents of the marine tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) from Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 253-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Madeira Di Beneditto ◽  
Salvatore Siciliano
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Sotalia Guianensis ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Trichiurus Lepturus ◽  
Cynoscion Guatucupa ◽  
Janeiro State

Along the central coast of Rio de Janeiro State (22°25′S–23°00′S), south-eastern Brazil, the marine tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) feeds on neritic prey that are distributed through the water column and are abundant all year round. The most frequently found species were the teleost fish Trichiurus lepturus, Cynoscion guatucupa, Isopisthus parvipinnis and Porichthys porossisimus. Fish species were more important than cephalopod species in the diet of the marine tucuxi. Back calculations of prey sizes indicated that they feed mainly on young specimens. The present study provided additional information on the feeding habits of the marine tucuxi dolphin.

scholarly journals POWER OUTPUT AND PROPULSIVE EFFICIENCY OF SWIMMING BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS)

1993 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. E. Fish
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
The Body ◽  
Hydrodynamic Performance ◽  
Propulsive Efficiency ◽  
Velocity Amplitude ◽  
Swimming Depth ◽  
Maximum Angle

The power output and propulsive efficiency of swimming bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were determined from a hydromechanical model. The propulsive movements were filmed as dolphins swam in large pools. Dolphins swam at velocities of 1.2-6.0 m s-1. Propulsion was provided by dorsoventral oscillations of the posterior body and flukes. The maximum angle of attack of the flukes showed a linear decrease with velocity, whereas the frequency of the propulsive cycle increased linearly with increasing velocity. Amplitude was 20 % of body length and remained constant with velocity. Propulsive efficiency was 0.81. The thrust power computed was within physiological limits. After correction for effects due to swimming depth, the coefficient of drag was found to be 3.2 times higher than the theoretical minimum assuming turbulent boundary conditions. The motions of the body and flukes are primarily responsible for the increased drag. This analysis supports other studies that indicate that bottlenose dolphins, although well adapted for efficient high- performance swimming, show no unusual hydrodynamic performance.

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