Regional and group-level differences in fluke markings and notches of sperm whales

Susan Dufault, Hal Whitehead

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We compared differences, at three spatial-social scales, in occurrence of seven types of predator-inflicted marks and two different notch types (thought to be inherited) found on tail flukes of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). There were significant differences between groups in occurrence of most of the predator-inflicted marks suggesting that individuals within groups had similar experiences of predation, possibly due to their use of group-defense tactics. Individuals identified in four groups in the productive region of upwelling off the coast of Peru generally had more of these marks than individuals elsewhere in the South Pacific, which may be evidence of higher frequency of predator attacks in those waters. Proportions of the two types of fluke notch were found to be significantly different in different groups suggesting that individuals in those groups were closely related. There was no other evidence of geographic patterns in marking or fluke notch type.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)514-520
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Mammalogy
Volume79
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 1998

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Genetics
  • Nature and Landscape Conservation

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Dufault, S., & Whitehead, H. (1998). Regional and group-level differences in fluke markings and notches of sperm whales. Journal of Mammalogy, 79(2), 514-520. https://doi.org/10.2307/1382982