Evidence of epimeletic behavior involving a Pontoporia blainvillei calf (Cetacea, Pontoporiidae)

The present paper constitutes the second record of epimeletic behavior for the toninha, Pontoporia blainvillei. A toninha calf carcass was recovered at Enseada Beach, São Francisco do Sul, southern Brazil (26o13’S - 48o31’W) on October 9, 2001. Its total length indicated that it was a neonate or a p...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Antonio José Tonello Júnior, Fernando Augusto Sliva Hardt, Marta Jussara Cremer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2006-06-01
Series:Biotemas
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume192/p83a86.pdf
Description
Summary:The present paper constitutes the second record of epimeletic behavior for the toninha, Pontoporia blainvillei. A toninha calf carcass was recovered at Enseada Beach, São Francisco do Sul, southern Brazil (26o13’S - 48o31’W) on October 9, 2001. Its total length indicated that it was a neonate or a premature calf. The calf had many parallel scratches on it, which were freshly made and produced by adult teeth. There were scratches on the fin, flukes and flippers, and the position and size of the marks demonstrated the intention of the adult to rescue the calf. The anterior region of the body showed net marks, suggesting that the calf had been accidentally entangled. The epimeletic behavior evidenced by the tooth marks could have occurred during the entanglement and/or after its liberation, and we suggest that the causa mortis of the calf was drowning.
ISSN:0103-1643