Movements of Pelagic Dolphins (Stenella Spp.) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific as Indicated by Results of Tagging, With Summary of Tagging Operations, 1969-76

摘要

Through 1976, 3,712 small cetaceans were tagged in the course of research cruises operating out of the Southwest Fisheries Center. These included 3,996 spotted dolphins, Stenella attenuata; 324 spinner dolphins, S. longirostis; 193 common dolphins, Delphinus delphis; and 113 bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Others tagged in small numbers included Pacific whitesided dolphins, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens; striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba; and a short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus. Average short-term movement in the spotted dolphin is 30-50 n.mi./day; range is 200-300 n.mi. in diameter, and seasonal onshore-offshore migrations may exist.