Ingrid Poldan: Analysis of cephalopod beaks from
stomachs of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) from the
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.