Records of Fatal Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Attacks on Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus) with an Emphasis on Baja California, Mexico

IF 0.8 4区生物学 Q4 MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY

Aquatic Mammals Pub Date : 2023-03-15 DOI:10.1578/am.49.2.2023.195

R. Pitman, Alisa Schulman-Janiger, M. E. Guerrero-Ruíz, Andre Meresiev Ortega-Gonzalez, Hiram Rosales Nanduca, M. Fishbach, Ralph Pace, Rui Rodrigues, Denis Chevallay, Lorena Viloria-Gómora

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Historically, there has been only one documented fatal killer whale (Orcinus orca) attack on a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)—from Baja California, Mexico (BC), in 2005. We compiled records of seven more recent fatal attacks, including four more from BC. Two male killer whales that we identified were involved, separately or together, in at least four of the five fin whale kills off BC as they traveled with their groups the length of the Baja Peninsula on both sides. They were also involved in two Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) kills, and we suggest that they might specialize on large whale prey. We discuss offensive and defensive strategies during these attacks and the role (or lack thereof) of adult male killer whales. One of the fin whales taken appeared to be a healthy adult, which raises questions about large whales as prey for killer whales. We also discuss the burgeoning role of citizen science in this type of research, noting that most of our data came from social media postings.

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虎鲸(Orcinus orca)对长须鲸(Balaenoptera physalus)的致命攻击记录，重点是在墨西哥的下加利福尼亚

从历史上看，只有2005年发生过一起记录在案的虎鲸(Orcinus orca)袭击长须鲸(Balaenoptera physalus)的致命事件——发生在墨西哥的下加利福尼亚。我们整理了最近七起致命袭击的记录，其中四起发生在BC省。我们确定的两只雄性虎鲸，单独或一起，参与了BC省五起长须鲸杀戮事件中的至少四起，因为它们和它们的群体一起游过了巴哈半岛的两边。它们还参与了两次布氏鲸(Balaenoptera edeni)的杀戮，我们认为它们可能专门捕食大型鲸鱼。我们将讨论这些攻击中的进攻和防御策略，以及成年雄性虎鲸的角色(或缺乏角色)。其中一头被捕获的长须鲸似乎是健康的成年鲸，这引发了大型鲸鱼成为虎鲸猎物的问题。我们还讨论了公民科学在这类研究中的新兴作用，并指出我们的大多数数据来自社交媒体帖子。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Aquatic Mammals MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY-ZOOLOGY

CiteScore

1.60

自引率

16.70%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Aquatic Mammals is a peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM), the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), and the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA). Aquatic Mammals publishes articles related to marine mammals (whales, dolphins, seals, fur seals, sea lions, walrus, dugongs, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears). Topics of publication on both captive animals and wild marine mammals include aspects of husbandry; behavior; conservation; veterinary medicine; anatomy; physiology; training; population trends; and the effects of pollution, climate change, and noise.