Ingrid Poldan: Analysis of cephalopod breaks from stomachs of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Adriatic Sea. Diploma Thesis. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb. Zagreb, 2008.

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), souther shortfin squid (Illex coindetii), common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) nad musky octopus (Eldone moschata). All four species were present only in one female bottlenose dolphin. Most cephalopod beaks belonged to musky octopus (43,39%). Mass of the cephalopods was estimated in range from 20 grams (musky octopus) to 1000 grams (common cuttlefish), and total mass of cephalopods was estimated in range from 179 gram to 3030 gram. The highest number of cephalopods was present in the stomach content of one juvenile male. In the stomach content of the bottlenose dolphins more frequently occure one or two species of cephalopods.