Skip to main content

Feeding aggregation and aggressive interaction between bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Commerson’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) in Patagonia, Argentina

Journal of Ethology volume 28, Article number: 183 (2010) Cite this article

Abstract

We report the first recorded interactions between bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and Commerson’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii). The diurnal behavioral patterns of bottlenose dolphins in Bahía Engaño, Argentina, were similar to those described for other coastal populations around the world. The majority of the feeding bouts were recorded near the mouth the Chubut River. When not feeding near the river, bottlenose dolphins generally swam along the coast, and interactions with Commerson’s dolphins were recorded very close to the shore on two occasions during a 3-year period. In the first event, both species were feeding on a fish school. The second interaction was aggressive in nature, involving one juvenile and three adult bottlenose dolphins with several Commerson’s dolphins. Two of the adult bottlenose dolphins attacked the Commerson’s dolphins. We propose that the observed behavior represented defense of the juvenile bottlenose dolphin.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Altmann J (1974) Observational study of behavior: sampling methods. Behaviour 49:227–267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Azpelicueta MM, Figueroa DE, Herrera R, Goztonyi AE (2001) The macrophtalmia stage of Geotria australis Gray, 1851 (Petromyzontiformes: Geotridae) in Argentina. Neotrópica 47:81–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Bräger S (1993) Diurnal and seasonal behavior patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Mar Mamm Sci 9:434–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bristow T, Rees EIS (2001) Site fidelity and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Cardigan Bay, Wales. Aquat Mamm 27:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Clua É, Grosvalet F (2001) Mixed-species feeding aggregation of dolphins, large tunas and seabirds in the Azores. Aquat Living Resour 14:11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corkeron PJ (1990) Aspects of the behavioral ecology of inshore dolphin Tursiops truncatus and Sousa chinensis in Moreton Bay, Australia. In: Leatherwood S, Reeves RR (eds) The bottlenose dolphin. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 285–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Coscarella MA (2005) Ecología, comportamiento y evaluación del impacto de embarcaciones sobre manadas de tonina overa Cephalorhynchus commersonii en Bahía Engaño, Chubut. PhD Thesis, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, 227 pp

  • Coscarella MA, Dans SL, Crespo EA, Pedraza SN (2003) Potential impact of unregulated dolphin watching activities in Patagonia. J Cetacean Res Manag 5:77–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz López B, Bernal Shirai JA (2007) Marine aquaculture and bottlenose dolphins’ (Tursiops truncatus) social structure. Behav Ecol Sociobiol. doi:10.1007/s00265-007-0512-1

  • Dunn DG, Barco SG, Pabst DA, McLellan WA (2002) Evidence for infanticide in bottlenose dolphins of the Western North Atlantic. J Wildl Dis 38:505–510

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herman LM (1980) Cetacean behavior: mechanisms and functions. Krieger, Malabar

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzing D, Johnson CM (1997) Interspecific interactions between Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops turncatus) in the Bahamas, 1985–1995. Aquat Mamm 23:85–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzing D, Moewe K, Brunnick BJ (2003) Interspecies interactions between Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, on Great Bahama Bank, Bahamas. Aquat Mamm 29:335–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leatherwood S, Reeves RR (1990) The bottlenose dolphin. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann J (1999a) Behavioral sampling methods for cetaceans: a review and critique. Mar Mamm Sci 15:102–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mann J (1999b) Lethal tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) attack on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) calf: defense and reactions by the mother. Mar Mamm Sci 15:568–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mann J, Connor RC, Tyack PL, Whitehead H (2000) Cetacean societies: field studies of dolphins and whales. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Palacios DM (1996) Attack by false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) on sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Galápagos Islands. Mar Mamm Sci 12:582–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson IAP, Reid RJ, Wilson B, Grellier K, Ross HM, Thompson PM (1998) Evidence for infanticide in bottlenose dolphins: an explanation for violent interactions with harbour porpoises? Proc R Soc Lond B 265:1167–1170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ross HM, Wilson B (1996) Violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. Proc R Soc Lond B 263:283–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saayman GS, Tayler CK (1979) The socioecology of humpback dolphins (Sousa sp.). In: Winn HE, Olla BL (eds) Behavior of marine animals. Plenum, New York, pp 165–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Saayman GS, Tayler CK, Bower D (1973) Diurnal activity cycles in captive and free-ranging Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus, Ehrenburg). Behavior 44:212–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez J, Kuba L, Berón Vera B, Dans SL, Crespo EA, Van Bressem M-F, Coscarella MA, García NA, Koen Alonso M, Pedraza SN, Mariotti PA (2002) Uterine adenocarcinoma with generalised metastasis in a bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus from northern Patagonia, Argentina. Dis Aquat Org 48:155–159

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shane SH (1990) Behavior and ecology of the bottlenose dolphin at Sanibel Island, Florida. In: Leatherwood S, Reeves RR (eds) The bottlenose dolphin. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 245–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Shane SH, Wells RS, Würsig B (1986) Ecology, behavior and social organization of the bottlenose dolphin: a review. Mar Mamm Sci 2:34–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sini MI, Canning SJ, Stockin KA, Pierce GJ (2005) Bottlenose dolphins around Aberdeen harbour, north-east Scotland: a short study of habitat utilization and the potential effects of boat traffic. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 85:1547–1554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Würsig B, Würsig M (1979) Behavior and ecology of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in the South Atlantic. Fish Bull 77:399–412

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to many people and organizations for the institutional, logistical, and financial support given throughout this study. We thank the Centro Nacional Patagónico––CONICET, Fundación BBVA (BIOCON 04), ANPCyT 4025, 4030, 11679 and 33934, and Project PNUD ARG-02/018 (B-B27). We also thank the Secretaría de Turismo de Chubut that granted the permits to carry out the studies. Néstor García made the determination of the prey species found in the stomach content of the beached bottlenose dolphin. Dr. Dave Beauchamp improved the language style.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Mamíferos Marinos, Centro Nacional Patagónico, CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2825 (U 9120 ACF), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Mariano A. Coscarella & Enrique A. Crespo

  2. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Blvd. Brown 3700 (U 9120 ACF), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Mariano A. Coscarella & Enrique A. Crespo

Authors
  1. Mariano A. Coscarella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Enrique A. Crespo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariano A. Coscarella.

About this article

Cite this article

Coscarella, M.A., Crespo, E.A. Feeding aggregation and aggressive interaction between bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Commerson’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) in Patagonia, Argentina. J Ethol 28, 183 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-009-0171-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-009-0171-y

Keywords

  • Tursiops truncatus
  • Cephalorhynchus commersonii
  • Interspecies interaction
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Feeding behavior