RT Journal Article
T1 Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) aggressive behavior towards other cetacean species in the western Mediterranean
A1 Crespo-Picazo, Jose Luis
A1 Rubio-Guerri, Consuelo
A1 Jiménez Martínez, María de los Ángeles
A1 Aznar, Francisco Javier
A1 Marco-Cabedo, Vicente
A1 Melero, Mar
A1 Sánchez-Vizcaíno Rodríguez, José Manuel
A1 Gozalbes, Patricia
A1 García-Párraga, Daniel
AB Aggressive behavior of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) towards conspecifics is widely described, but they have also often been reported attacking and killing harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) around the world. However, very few reports exist of aggressive interactions between bottlenose dolphins and other cetacean species. Here, we provide the first evidence that bottlenose dolphins in the western Mediterranean exhibit aggressive behavior towards both striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). Necropsies and visual examination of stranded striped (14) and Risso's (2) dolphins showed numerous lesions (external rake marks and different bone fractures or internal organ damage by blunt trauma). Indicatively, these lessons matched the inter-tooth distance and features of bottlenose dolphins. In all instances, these traumatic interactions were presumed to be the leading cause of the death. We discuss how habitat changes, dietary shifts, and/or human colonization of marine areas may be promoting these interactions.
PB Nature Research
SN 2045-2322
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/95753
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/95753
LA eng
NO Crespo-Picazo, J.L., Rubio-Guerri, C., Jiménez, M.A. et al. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) aggressive behavior towards other cetacean species in the western Mediterranean. Sci Rep 11, 21582 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00867-6
NO Author contributionsM.M., C.R.G., V.M.C., P.G. and J.L.C.P. collected samples and data. M.A.J. performed histopathological analysis. J.L.C.P. conceived the study. D.G.P. and J.M.S.V. provided logistic support. C.R.G., J.L.C.P. and D.G.P. wrote the manuscript. All authors participated in discussion and editing the manuscript.
NO Comunitat Valenciana 
DS Docta Complutense
RD 18 abr 2025