The importance of post-mortem examinations in cetacean biology : a report of a necropsy on Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) (Cetacea: Delphinidae), from the Azores, Northeastern Atlantic

摘要

This article reports the necropsy of a specimen of striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba found stranded in the north coast of Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal. Here, the importance of standard protocols in post-mortem examinations and the need to adequately proceed were discussed. Stranded marine mammals are valuable specimens for several studies of pathology and other veterinary medical aspects. Although the causa mortis was not determined, the full access to stranded specimens was crucial, not only for pathology studies but also for a proper training to veterinary medicine students whenever possible.