Abstract

VAZQUEZ-CASTAN, Laura et al. First record of sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus and Kogia sima, in Caribbean waters of the Dominican Republic. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2012, vol.83, n.4, pp.1244-1248. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.7550/rmb.21451.

This is the first report of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) for the Bayahibe area in the Dominican Republic. A total of 10 boat based surveys were carried out, totaling 49.92 hr of survey effort. Cetaceans were observed in 3 out of 10 surveys, totalling 82 organisms sighted. The observed species were: Tursiops truncatus, Physeter macrocephalus and Kogia sima; recorded at depths of 400 to 1 400 m, over sandy/ rocky bottoms, and a sea surface temperature of 29° to 31° C.

Keywords : cetaceans; sperm whale; Physeter macrocephalus; dwarf sperm whale; Kogia sima; bottlenose dolphin; Tursiops truncatus; Dominican Republic.

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