Abstract

Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus was stranded alive on the coast of the Iskenderun Bay, northeastern Mediterranean, on 28 March 2022. It was found dead in the same location the next day (29 March 2022). G. griseus was identified as female and measured to be 370 kg weight and 294 cm long. Deep ulceration areas containing the amorphic and necrotic substance were observed, and neutrophils, bacteria or parasites were not detected in necropsy. It had a poor body condition and displayed several lacerations and scratches on the rostrum. The blubber thickness in the central body was 2.8 cm. In this study, the live-stranding record of a Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) for the first time in the Iskenderun Bay, the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye.

References

• Bearzi, G., Reeves, R. R., Remonato, E., Pierantonio, N., Airoldi, S. (2011). Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus in the Mediterranean Sea. Mammalian Biology, 76(4), 385-400.
• Bello, G. (1992). Stomach contents of a Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus: do dolphins compete with fishermen and swordfish, Xiphias gladius. European Research on Cetaceans, 6, 199-202.
• Bello, G. (1996). Teutophagus predators as collectors of oceanic cephalopods: The case of the Adriatic Sea. Bolletino Malacologico, 32(1-4), 71-78.
• Bello, G., Bentivegna, F. (1994). Cephalopod remains from the stomach of a Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus (Cetacea: Delphinidae), stranded along the eastern Tyrrhenian coast. Atti Soc. It. Sci. nat. Museo Civ. Stor. Nat. Milano, 135, 467-469.
• Blanco, C., Raduán, M. Á., Raga, J. A. (2006). Diet of Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) in the western Mediterranean Sea. Scientia Marina, 70(3), 407-411.
• Carlini, R., Pulcini, M., Wurtz, M. (1992). Cephalopods from the stomachs of Risso’s dolphins, Grampus griseus (Cuvier, 1812), stranded along the central Tyrrhenian coast. European Research on Cetaceans, 6, 196-198.
• Dede, A., Tonay, A. M., Bayar, H., Öztürk, A. A. (2013). First stranding record of a Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) in the Marmara Sea, Turkey. Journal of Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment, 19(1), 121-126.
• García-Polo, M., Giménez, J., Mons, J., Castillo, J., De Stephanis, R., Santos, M., Fernández-Maldonado, C. (2014). Stomach contents of cetaceans in the Alborán Sea and Gulf of Cádiz. In Frontiers in Marine Science. Conference Abstract. In Proceedings of the IMMR International Meeting on Marine Research 2014 (pp. 10-11).
• Hartman, K. L. (2018). Risso’s dolphin: Grampus griseus. In Encyclopedia of marine mammals (pp. 824-827). Academic Press.
• IUCN (2021) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2022-3. https://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed on [01-12-2022].
• Jefferson, T. A., Weir, C. R., Anderson, R. C., Ballance, L. T., Kenney, R. D., Kiszka, J. J. (2014). Global distribution of Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus: a review and critical evaluation. Mammal Review, 44(1), 56-68.
• Kim, S. W., Han, S. J., Lee, Y. R., Kim, B. Y., & Park, S. C. (2019). First report of a Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) stranded in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea: findings from necropsy, histopathology and microbiome analysis. Veterinary Record Case Reports, 7(4), e000860.
• Lo Brutto, S., Calascibetta, A., Pavan, G., Buffa, G. (2021). Cetacean strandings and museum collections: A focus on Sicily Island crossroads for Mediterranean species. Diversity, 13(3), 104.
• Luna, A., Sánchez, P., Chicote, C., Gazo, M. (2022). Cephalopods in the diet of Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) from the Mediterranean Sea: A review. Marine Mammal Science, 38(2), 725-741.
• Maio, N. (1998). Study of a Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus (Cuvier, 1812), stranded on the coast of the gulf of Naples (Cetacea, Delphinidae): Considerations about the causes of the death.
• Maldini, D., Mazzuca, L., Atkinson, S. (2005). Odontocete Stranding Patterns in the Main Hawaiian Islands (1937–2002): How Do They Compare with Live Animal Surveys? Pacific Science, 59(1), 55-67.
• Mazzariol, S., Centelleghe, C. (2007). Standard protocol for post-mortem examination on cetaceans. IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme, University of Padua.
• Öztürk, B., Salman, A., Öztürk, A. A., Tonay, A. (2007). Cephalopod remains in the diet of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Vie milieu, 57(1/2), 53-59.
• Pedà, C., Battaglia, P., Scuderi, A., Voliani, A., Mancusi, C., Andaloro, F., Romeo, T. (2015). Cephalopod prey in the stomach contents of odontocete cetaceans stranded in the western Mediterranean Sea. Marine Biology Research, 11(6), 593-602.
• Turan, C., Doğdu, S. A., Uysal, İ. (2023). Mapping stranded whales in turkish marine waters. Annales: Series Historia Naturalis, 33(1), 127-136.