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Infanticide Reported in Dolphins

Two research teams have found evidence of infanticide among dolphins off Virginia Beach in the United States and in Moray Firth in Scotland.

References:

Barco, S.G. . . . D.G. Dunn, et al. 1998. Virginia Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) calf strandings: Dramatic rise in numbers and emergence of traumatic deaths. Sixth Annual Atlantic Coastal Dolphin Conference. May. Sarasota, Fla.

Dunn, D.G., et al. 1998. Virginia Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) strandings: Gross pathological findings in ten traumatic deaths. Sixth Annual Atlantic Coastal Dolphin Conference. May. Sarasota, Fla.

Patterson, I.A.P., R.J. Reid, B. Wilson, K. Grellier, H.M. Ross, and P.M. Thompson. 1998. Evidence for infanticide in bottlenose dolphins: An explanation for violent interactions with harbour porpoises? Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 265(July 7):1167.

 

Further Readings:

Connor, R.C., et al. 1996. Patterns of female attractiveness in Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins. Behaviour 133:37.

 

Sources:

Susan Barco
Virginia Marine Science Museum Stranding Program
717 General Booth Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Dale G. Dunn
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Department of Veterinary Pathology
Washington, DC 20306

John Harwood
University of St. Andrews
School of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology
St. Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB
United Kingdom

Tony Patterson
Inverness Veterinary Centre
SAC Veterinary Science Division
Drummond Hill
Stratherrick Road
Inverness IV2 4JZ
United Kingdom

Paul Thompson
University of Aberdeen
Department of Zoology
Lighthouse Field Station, Cromarty
Ross-shire IV11 8YJ
United Kingdom

 

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