A note on stomach contents of minke whales ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ) in Icelandic waters

Abstract

There is limited available information on food habits of minke whales ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ) in coastal Iceland. Sixty-eight minke whales were examined for stomach contents; 51.5% contained fish only, 22.1 % krill (Euphausiacea) only, 25.0% fish and krill together, and one animal (l.5%) had no food remains in the stomach. The fish species identified were capelin ( Mallotus villosus ), sandeel ( Ammodytidae ), cod ( Gadus morhua ) and herring ( Clupea harengus ). Two species of krill were identified;  Thysanoessa raschii and Meganyctiphanes norvegica . Sandeel was the dominant prey species in the western and southwestern areas, while capelin and krill were more frequently found in animals sampled in North Iceland.