Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2005
Keywords
Interspecific interactions, Sotalia fluviatilis, Tursiops truncatus
Abstract
Studies measuring the extent of interspecific interactions between dolphin species are rare. We observed free-ranging tucuxis (Sotalia fluviatilis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to document the frequency of occurrence of interspecific interactions relative to group size and behavioral state. We conducted opportunistic surveys in Gandoca- Manzanillo (9º36’N, 82º35’W), Costa Rica. Of the 71 groups analyzed, 46.5% were comprised only of tucuxis, 21.1% of bottlenose dolphins, and 32.4% of the two species. Social behavior was more frequent in mixed-species groups and in groups larger than four dolphins; foraging was more frequent in single-species groups and in groups smaller than five dolphins. Photographic documentation and sightings of putative hybrids suggest the occurrence of hybridization between both dolphin species. Results indicate that tucuxis and bottlenose dolphins interacted frequently and that these interactions were predominantly social in nature. Future studies will discern whether these interactions result in the development of hybrids.
Publication Title
Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals
Volume
4
Issue
1
First Page
49
Last Page
54
Required Publisher's Statement
Recommended Citation
Acevedo-Gutiérrez, Alejandro; DiBerardinis, Ann; Larkin, Shawn; Larkin, Katrina; and Forestell, Paul, "Social Interactions Between Tucuxis and Bottlenose Dolphins in Gandoca-Manzanillo, Costa Rica" (2005). Biology Faculty and Staff Publications. 35.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/biology_facpubs/35
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Tucuxi--Behavior--Costa Rica; Bottlenose dolphin--Behavior--Costa Rica; Social behavior in animals; Sexual behavior in animals
Geographic Coverage
Costa Rica
Genre/Form
articles
Type
Text
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
