New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
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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