AN UNUSUAL INTERACTION BETWEEN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) AND A HARBOUR PORPOISE (PHOCOENA PHOCOENA)

An unusual interaction between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Arda M. Tonay, Ayhan Dede, Ayaka Amaha Öztürk

Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, TURKEY
Turkish Marine Research Foundation, P.O. Box 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TURKEY

Abstract

This short communication reports an observation of unusual non-agonistic interactions between a juvenile harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and a group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Marmara Sea on 25 April 2015.

Keywords: Cetacea, Istanbul Strait (Bosphorus), interspecific association

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