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Infanticide attacks and associated epimeletic behaviour in free-ranging common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2017

Bruno Díaz López Open the ORCID record for Bruno Díaz López [Opens in a new window] ,
Alfredo López ,
Séverine Methion  and
Pablo Covelo
Bruno Díaz López*
Affiliation:
Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños (CEMMA), P.O. Box 15. 36380, Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), Av. Beiramar 192, 36980, O Grove, Pontevedra, Spain
Alfredo López
Affiliation:
Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños (CEMMA), P.O. Box 15. 36380, Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Campus de Santiago, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Séverine Methion
Affiliation:
Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), Av. Beiramar 192, 36980, O Grove, Pontevedra, Spain Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Campus de Santiago, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Université Bordeaux, UMR CNRS 5805 EPOC, Allee Geoffroy St Hilaire, 33615 Pessac Cedex, France
Pablo Covelo
Affiliation:
Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños (CEMMA), P.O. Box 15. 36380, Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: B. D. López, Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños (CEMMA), P.O. Box 15. 36380, Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain and Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), Av. Beiramar 192, 36980, O Grove, Pontevedra, Spain email: bruno@thebdri.com
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Abstract

Infanticide is considered a conspicuous expression of sexual conflict amongst mammals, including bottlenose dolphins. Although reported previously in this species, confirmed cases of infanticide and associated epimeletic behaviour are very rare and their socio-behavioural context remains poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence of epimeletic and infanticide behaviours in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in Galicia, NW Spain. After describing the observed events, we include a complete description of the post-mortem examinations (where the carcasses were recovered) in order to confirm the cause of death. With evidences of blunt trauma in two of the presented cases, we confirm that the calves were intentionally killed by adult individuals. The aggressive interaction between adult individuals and the neonates together with the observed ante-mortem injuries bore a strong resemblance to the behaviours and traumatic injuries described in other cases of violent dolphin interactions in other parts of the world. The circumstances under which these infanticides occurred at our site fit the conditions proposed under the sexual selection hypothesis. The difficulties for researchers to observe this type of behaviour in the field and to find carcasses in good enough condition to determine the cause of death, emphasizes the importance of this type of study.

Keywords

infanticideepimeletic behaviourbottlenose dolphinsocioecologytraumatic injuriescare giving
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 98 , Special Issue 5: Marine Mammals , August 2018 , pp. 1159 - 1167
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2017 

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