scholarly journals Diet and mitochondrial DNA haplotype of a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) found dead off Jurong Island, Singapore

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6705
Author(s):  
Marcus A.H. Chua ◽  
David J.W. Lane ◽  
Seng Keat Ooi ◽  
Serene H.X. Tay ◽  
Tsunemi Kubodera
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Hydrodynamic Modelling ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Haplotype

Despite numerous studies across the large geographic range of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), little is known about the diet and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of this strongly female philopatric species in waters off Southeast Asia. A female sperm whale found dead in Singapore waters provided the opportunity to study her diet and mitochondrial DNA haplotype. Here we report on the identification of stomach contents and mitochondrial DNA haplotype of this individual, and we include coastal hydrodynamic modelling to determine the possible geographic origin of the whale. At least 28 species of prey were eaten by this adult female whale, most of which were cephalopods. The mesopelagic squids Taonius pavo, Histioteuthis pacifica, Chiroteuthis imperator,and Ancistrocheirus lesueurii made up over 65% of the whale’s stomach contents. Plastic debris was also found in the whale’s stomach. Based on the diet, genetics, and coastal hydrodynamic modelling that suggest an easterly drift of the whale carcass over several days, the dead sperm whale in Singapore probably originated from a pod in the Southern Indian Ocean. This study provides an increase in the understanding the diet and natural history of the sperm whale in Southeast Asia. The combined analyses of stomach contents, DNA, and hydrodynamic modeling could provide a context to future studies on the sperm whale strandings, and have broader applicability for other marine mammals in the region.

scholarly journals East African origins for Madagascan chickens as indicated by mitochondrial DNA

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 160787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Herrera ◽  
Vicki A. Thomson ◽  
Jessica J. Wadley ◽  
Philip J. Piper ◽  
Sri Sulandari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
East Africa ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
East African ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Control Region ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Indian Ocean

The colonization of Madagascar by Austronesian-speaking people during AD 50–500 represents the most westerly point of the greatest diaspora in prehistory. A range of economically important plants and animals may have accompanied the Austronesians. Domestic chickens ( Gallus gallus ) are found in Madagascar, but it is unclear how they arrived there. Did they accompany the initial Austronesian-speaking populations that reached Madagascar via the Indian Ocean or were they late arrivals with Arabian and African sea-farers? To address this question, we investigated the mitochondrial DNA control region diversity of modern chickens sampled from around the Indian Ocean rim (Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Madagascar). In contrast to the linguistic and human genetic evidence indicating dual African and Southeast Asian ancestry of the Malagasy people, we find that chickens in Madagascar only share a common ancestor with East Africa, which together are genetically closer to South Asian chickens than to those in Southeast Asia. This suggests that the earliest expansion of Austronesian-speaking people across the Indian Ocean did not successfully introduce chickens to Madagascar. Our results further demonstrate the complexity of the translocation history of introduced domesticates in Madagascar.

Foraging on squid: the sperm whale mid-range sonar

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. André ◽  
T. Johansson ◽  
E. Delory ◽  
M. van der Schaar
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Target Strength ◽  
Directional Hearing ◽  
Experimental Measurements ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
The Subject

The sonar capabilities of the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, have been the subject of speculation for a long time. While the usual clicks of this species are considered to support mid-range echolocation, no physical characteristics of the signal have clearly confirmed this assumption nor have they explained how sperm whales forage on squid. The recent data on sperm whale on-axis recordings have allowed us to simulate the propagation of a 15 kHz pulse as well as its received echoes from different targets, taking into account the reflections from the bottom and the sea surface. The analysis was performed in a controlled environment where the oceanographic parameters and the acoustic background could be modified. We also conducted experimental measurements of cephalopod target strength (TS) (Loligo vulgaris and Sepia officinalis) to further investigate and confirm the TS predictions from the geometric scattering equations. Based on the results of the computer simulations and the TS experimental measurements (TS squid=−36.3±2.5 dB), we were able to determine the minimum requirements for sperm whale sonar, i.e. range and directional hearing, to locate a single 24.5 cm long squid, considered to be (from stomach contents) the major size component of the sperm whale diet. Here, we present the development of the analysis which confirms that sperm whale usual clicks are appropriate to serve a mid-range sonar function, allowing this species to forage on individual organisms with low sound-reflectivity at ranges of several hundreds of metres.

scholarly journals <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru

Fossil Record ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Collareta ◽  
Olivier Lambert ◽  
Christian de Muizon ◽  
Mario Urbina ◽  
Giovanni Bianucci
Keyword(s):  
Late Miocene ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Southern Coast ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Temporal Fossa ◽  
Pisco Formation ◽  
Feeding Specialization ◽  
History Of

Abstract. Among odontocetes, members of the family Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm whales) are known as small-sized and in many respects enigmatic relatives of the great sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus. Most of the still scanty fossil record of Kogiidae is represented by isolated skulls and ear bones from Neogene deposits of the Northern Hemisphere, with the significant exception of Scaphokogia, a highly autapomorphic genus from late Miocene deposits of the Pisco Formation exposed along the southern coast of Peru. Here we report on a new fossil kogiid from Aguada de Lomas, a site where the late Miocene beds of the Pisco Formation are exposed. This specimen consists of an almost complete cranium representing a new taxon of Kogiidae: Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov. Koristocetus mainly differs from extant Kogia spp. by displaying a larger temporal fossa and well-individualized dental alveoli on the upper jaws. Coupled with a relatively elongated rostrum, these characters suggest that Koristocetus retained some degree of raptorial feeding abilities, contrasting with the strong suction feeding specialization seen in Recent kogiids. Our phylogenetic analysis recognizes Koristocetus as the earliest branching member of the subfamily Kogiinae. Interestingly, Koristocetus shared the southern coast of present-day Peru with members of the genus Scaphokogia, whose unique convex rostrum and unusual neurocranial morphology seemingly indicate a peculiar foraging specialization that has still to be understood. In conclusion, Koristocetus evokes a long history of high diversity, morphological disparity, and sympatric habits in fossil kogiids, thus suggesting that our comprehension of the evolutionary history of pygmy and dwarf sperm whales is still far from being exhaustive.

scholarly journals An unfamiliar physeteroid periotic (Cetacea: Odontoceti) from the German middle–late Miocene North Sea basin at Groß Pampau

Fossil Record ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-168
Author(s):  
Irene Montañez-Rivera ◽  
Oliver Hampe
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Systematic Position ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Anterior Process ◽  
General Arrangement ◽  
Accessory Ossicle

Abstract. The Miocene mica clay locality of Groß Pampau, known for numerous and partly spectacular finds of marine mammals is becoming more and more a prominent site that bears the potential to resolve questions regarding taphonomic relationships and to interpret life communities of the ancient North Sea because of its rich faunal assemblage including invertebrates and other remains of various vertebrate organisms. In the present work we describe a right periotic of Physeteroidea with morphological characters so far unknown from other sperm whales. The periotics of the middle Miocene Aulophyseter morricei demonstrate the closest resemblance to the Groß Pampau specimen in their overall appearance and in the general arrangement and proportions of single structures, particularly of the anterior process and pars cochlearis. A great similarity is also documented with periotics of the living sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, especially regarding the shape and disposition of the anterior process and the bony element located dorsally to the accessory ossicle. Kogiid periotics differ strongly from that of the Groß Pampau specimen by having an inflated and short anterior process and, typically, three well-defined spines on it. A new taxonomic naming of the Groß Pampau periotic is not appropriate at this stage, although it might demonstrate the existence of a so-far undescribed physeteroid species. Additionally, its systematic position remains yet unclear and it is unknown at this point if it could belong to Hoplocetus ritzi, another physeterid, whose fragments were discovered in the same locality, or to another, already-described taxon, of which the periotic is still unknown.

The diet of sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus 1758) off the Azores

1993 ◽  
Vol 339 (1287) ◽  
pp. 67-82 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Commercial Activities ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Modal Mass ◽  
Neutrally Buoyant

Stomach contents from 17 sperm whales, 15 males and two females, caught during commercial activities in 1981-1984 in the Azores region were identified and measured. A total of 28 738 cephalopods and 16 fish were represented in the collections. In addition, there were tunicates in two whales and m an-m ade products in three whales. None of the stomachs were empty. Flesh was present in 94.1% and indigestible fragments alone, including mandibles (beaks) of cephalopods, were present in 5.9% of the stomachs. Twelve species of cephalopod were represented by flesh and 40 species were represented by lower beaks. The cephalopod families contributing food to the whales in this region are, in order of their contribution by estimated mass, the O ctopoteuthidae (39.8%), the Histioteuthidae (32.7%), the Architeuthidae (12.1%), the Lepidoteuthidae (4.5% ), the Ommastrephidae (3.4% ), the Pholidoteuthidae (2.1% ), the Cycloteuthidae (1.9% ), the Cranchiidae (1.7%) and eight other families each contributing less than 1 % by mass. Presence of Gonatus beaks in the stomachs show which whales have migrated southwards to the Azores just prior to capture and the presence of a large Megalocranchia species possibly shows which whales have m igrated from higher latitudes off Iceland. However, the presence of Teuthowenia maculata shows which whales came north from the West coast of Africa, just prior to capture. The modal mass of cephalopods consumed is 400-450 g which represents 0.00001 of the whales’ body mass. 77.5% of the species eaten have luminous organs and 82% of the species are neutrally buoyant. It seems likely that the sperm whale is obtaining 77% of its food by swimming through luminous shoals of slow-swimming, neutrally bouyant squids and only about 23% by chasing faster swimming, larger cephalopods. Cephalopods not previously recorded from the North Atlantic are Onychoteuthis boreali-japonicus , and Histioteuthis bonnellii corpuscula . Histioteuthis ?miranda may have been collected by the whales much further south than the Azores. Species not recorded previously in the diet of sperm whales in the North Atlantic are Ommastrephes bartrami , Gonatus steenstrupi , Histioteuthis ?miranda , H. bonnellii corpuscula , H. meleagroteuthis , Discoteuthis laciniosa , Mastigoteulhis species, Chiroteulhis species, ?Helicocranchia , Liocranchia reinhardti , and ?Liguriella .

scholarly journals Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Sightings During a Survey of the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, British Columbia

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-124
Author(s):  
Meike Holst
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Elephant Seal ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Northern Elephant Seal ◽  
Leatherback Turtle

Marine mammals and sea turtles were documented as part of a monitoring and mitigation program during a seismic study offshore (~250 km) from Vancouver island, British Columbia, during August–September 2009. Forty-one marine mammals in nine groups were sighted. Dall’s Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) was the most frequently sighted species. A Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus), a pod of Pacific White-sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), an unidentified toothed whale, a Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris), and a leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) were also observed. These data augment current knowledge on the occurrence of marine mammals and sea turtles in the offshore waters of British Columbia.

Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, stranding on the Pakistani coast

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Gore ◽  
E. Ahmad ◽  
Q.M. Ali ◽  
R.M. Culloch ◽  
S. Hameed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Sperm Whales

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) occur frequently in stranding records worldwide. However, none have been reported along the Pakistani coastline to date. This paper documents the first reported stranding of a sperm whale on the Pakistani coast. Ultimately, this finding is important in the planning of Pakistan's Biodiversity Action Plan and its National Conservation Strategy for marine mammals.

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