New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Short communication Melanistic southern right-whale dolphins (Lissodelphis peronii) off Kaikoura, New Zealand, with records of other anomalously all-black cetaceans

Ingrid N. Visser

Orca Research Trust
P.O. Box 1233
Whangarei, New Zealand

Dagmar Fertl

Geo-Marine, Inc.
550 East 15th Street
Plano, TX 75074, United States

L. Todd Pusser

P.O. Box 122
West End, NC 27376, United States

Abstract  Reports of anomalously pigmented cetaceans, including melanistic (all-black) individuals are infrequent. We observed four melanistic southern right-whale dolphins (Lissodelphis peronii) including a calf, off Kaikoura (42°34´S, 173°50´E), New Zealand. We also compiled records of melanistic individuals from five other species of cetaceans. The ecological context of melanistic pigmentation of cetaceans is not well understood; however, it may increase heat absorption, affect ability to capture prey, impair visual/social communication, and/or increase conspicuousness to predators.

Keywords  melanism; melanistic; anomalous pigmentation; southern right-whale dolphin; Lissodelphis peronii; cetacean; New Zealand

M04131; Online publication date 24 November 2004 Received 9 August 2004; accepted 18 October 2004
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2004, Vol. 38: 833–836
0028–8330/04/3805–0833 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004

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