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Occurrence of Atlantic humpback (Sousa teuszii) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins in the coastal waters of Guinea-Bissau, with an updated cetacean species checklist

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2015

Ruth H. Leeney ,
Caroline R. Weir ,
Pierre Campredon ,
Aissa Regalla  and
Jeff Foster
Ruth H. Leeney*
Affiliation:
Benguela Research & Training, P.O. Box 786, Walvis Bay, Namibia
Caroline R. Weir
Affiliation:
Ketos Ecology, 4 Compton Road, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 2BP, UK
Pierre Campredon
Affiliation:
IUCN, IBAP – Avenida Dom Settimio Arturo Ferrazzetta, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Aissa Regalla
Affiliation:
IUCN, IBAP – Avenida Dom Settimio Arturo Ferrazzetta, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Jeff Foster
Affiliation:
3220 106th Street SE, Bellevue WA, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to:R.H. Leeney, Benguela Research & Training, P.O. Box 786, Walvis Bay, Namibia email: ruth.leeney@gmail.com
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Abstract

There is a paucity of information on the cetacean fauna of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. We compiled records published in the literature and novel unpublished sighting data (2008–2014) to examine the occurrence and distribution of cetacean species. At least 10 species were verified to occur in Guinea-Bissau waters, of which eight were documented from a small number of sightings, whaling captures or skeletal remains. By far the most frequently recorded species were the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) (N = 146) and the Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) (N = 110). These two species were sympatric in distribution, both being found throughout coastal waters from the northern regions of Canal de Jeta and Rio Mansôa south to the Rio Cacine and around the Arquipélago dos Bijagós. However, differences were apparent in their finer-scale distribution and in the distance of sightings from shore, with bottlenose dolphin sightings generally occurring further from shore (and especially in the region of the Canal do Gêba) than Atlantic humpback dolphins. Sightings indicate that both species likely inhabit Guinea-Bissau waters throughout the year. Dedicated systematic cetacean survey work is urgently needed in coastal Bissau-Guinean waters in order to ascertain the abundance, spatio-temporal distribution, population structure and causes of mortality of bottlenose and Atlantic humpback dolphins, particularly given the Vulnerable conservation status of the latter species. Clarification of the status of cetaceans in offshore waters requires survey effort throughout the Guinea-Bissau EEZ.

Keywords

Arquipélago dos Bijagósdistributiongroup sizesperm whalepilot whalekiller whaleRisso's dolphinClymene dolphinbycatch
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 96 , Issue 4: Marine Mammals , June 2016 , pp. 933 - 941
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2015 

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