New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Photo-identification of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in north-east New Zealand: a photo-catalogue of recognisable individuals

Dirk R. Neumann¹*
Alexandra Leitenberger²
Mark B. Orams¹

¹Coastal Marine Research Group
Massey University
Private Bag 102 904
North Shore MSC, Auckland
New Zealand
²Institute for Zoology
University of Vienna
Altanstrasse 14, 1090 Wien
Austria
*Present address: Steigstrasse 30, 72124 Pliezhausen, Germany. Email: thedolphindoc@hotmail.com

Abstract   Photo-identification has been established as a helpful tool in cetacean research. However, no study to date has attempted to apply this method to short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis L.). We present here the results of two studies that were conducted concurrently in Mercury Bay and the Hauraki Gulf on the north-east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Methods for distinguishing between individual dolphins are discussed. Sighting records of recognisable individuals indicate that some common dolphins move between Mercury Bay and the Hauraki Gulf (100 km distance), as well as between Mercury Bay and Whakatane (200 km distance). Common dolphin abundance and site fidelity appeared to be greater in the Hauraki Gulf than in Mercury Bay. A selection of photographs of distinct individuals is presented to allow future studies to compare their sighting records to ours, which may help establish the extent of home ranges, site fidelity, and possibly even longevity for common dolphins.

Keywords   photo-identification; common dolphins; Delphinus delphis; re-sightings; movements; site fidelity; home range

M01071 Received 6 August 2001; accepted 3 January 2002; published 17 September 2002
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2002, Vol. 36: 593-604
0028-8330/02/3603-0593 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002

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