Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) aggressive behavior towards other cetacean species in the western Mediterranean
Scientific reports publica este artículo de investigación
3 de noviembre de 2021
Aggressive behavior of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) towards conspecifics is widely described, but they have also often been reported attacking and killing harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) around the world. However, very few reports exist of aggressive interactions between bottlenose dolphins and other cetacean species. Here, we provide the first evidence that bottlenose dolphins in the western Mediterranean exhibit aggressive behavior towards both striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso`s dolphins (Grampus griseus). Necropsies and visual examination of stranded striped (14) and Risso`s (2) dolphins showed numerous lesions (external rake marks and different bone fractures or internal organ damage by blunt trauma). Indicatively, these lessons matched the inter-tooth distance and features of bottlenose dolphins. In all instances, these traumatic interactions were presumed to be the leading cause of the death. We discuss how habitat changes, dietary shifts, and/or human colonization of marine areas may be promoting these interactions
Crespo JL., Rubio-Guerri C., Jimenez MA., Aznar JF., Marco-Cabedo V., Melero M., Sanchez-Vizcaino JM., Gozalbes P. y Garcia-Parraga D.
 | Oceanogràfic. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. Generalitat Valenciana. |
 | Departamento de Farmacia. Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales y de la Salud. Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera (CEU-UCH). |
 | Servicio de Inmunología Viral y Medicina Preventiva (SUAT). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Marine Zoology Unit. Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology. Universitat de València (UV). |
