Ingrid Poldan: Analysis of cephalopod beaks from stomachs of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) from the Adriatic Sea. Original scientific student paper. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb. Zagreb. 2004.

 

Abstract

Cephalopod beaks were found in 10 stomach contents of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), identified and measured. A total of 106 cephalopod upper and lower beaks belonged to 69 specimen of four species. The species of cephalopods identified were european squid (Loligo vulgaris,), southern shortfin squid (l/lex coindeti), common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and musky octopus (Eledone moschata). All four species were present only in one female bottlenose dolphin. Most cephalopod beaks belonged to musky octopus (43,39%). Weight of the cephalopods was estimated in range from 20 gram (musky octopus) to 1000 gram (common cuttlefish), and total mass of cephalopods was estimated in range from 179 gram to 3030 gram. The highest number of cephalopod beaks (N=32) was present in the stomach content of one juvenile male. In the stomach content of the bottlenose dolphins more frequently occur one or two species of cephalopods.