Anomalously Pigmented Common Dolphins (Delphinus Sp.) Off Northern New Zealand Karen A
Aquatic Mammals 2005, 31(1), 43-51, DOI 10.1578/AM.31.1.2005.43 Anomalously Pigmented Common Dolphins (Delphinus sp.) off Northern New Zealand Karen A. Stockin1 and Ingrid N. Visser2 1Coastal-Marine Research Group, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore MSC, Auckland, New Zealand 2Orca Research Trust, P.O. Box 1233, Whangarei, New Zealand Abstract New Zealand waters is provided by Bernal et al. (2003) who suggested that common dolphins exhib- Anomalous pigmentations have been recorded in iting long rostra, as photographed in New Zealand many cetacean species. However, typically only by Doak (1989; Plates 34A, 34B), are long-beaked one variation is reported from a population at common dolphins. However, as Amaha (1994) and a time (e.g., an albino). Here we record a spec- Jefferson & Van Waerebeek (2002) highlighted, trum of pigmentation from common dolphins neither New Zealand nor Australian common dol- (Delphinus sp.) off northern New Zealand. All- phins neatly fit the morphological description of black, dark-morph, pale-morph, and all-white either D. delphis or D. capensis. In the past, New individuals, as well as variations between these Zealand common dolphins have been identified have been recorded. Pale-coloured pectoral flip- from pigmentation patterns in the field and classi- pers are prevalent, and a number of individuals fied as short-beaked common dolphins (Bräger & with white “helmets” have been observed. Schneider, 1998; Gaskin, 1968; Neumann, 2001; Webb, 1973), although pigmentation alone may not Key Words: common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, be sufficient to positively identity these dolphins to Delphinus capensis, anomalous pigmentation, species.
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