Report of a cetacean survey in the Western Approaches of the ...

Appendix iiCETACEAN POSTMORTEM SUMMARY REPORTSDolphin 1SPECIES: Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)SEX: MaleDATE FOUND: 22/02/05NATIONAL GRID NUMBER:DATE OF POSTMORTEM: 23/11/05PATHOLOGIST: Rob Deaville1. BASIC MEASUREMENTSFROZEN: YesCARCASS CONDITION: Slight-moderate decompositionBODY WEIGHT: 122.3kgLENGTH, GIRTH AND BLUBBER THICKNESS:-blubber thickness in front of dorsal fin:2. GROSS POSTMORTEM-tip upper jaw to tail notch: 215cm-girth in front of dorsal fin: 127cm-dorsal mid-line: 16mm-lateral: 11mm-ventral mid-line: 17mmExternal examinationNutritional state: Good.Body orifices: Both eyes were intact, although some fresh abrasions were noted just over the right eye.Ectoparasites: None found.Fins and flukes: A thin sliver of tissue was missing from the trailing edge of the left pectoral fin tip. Inaddition, thin linear impressions were found partially circumscribing the base of the left pectoral fin. It wasnot possible to determine the width of the individual impressions as they had run into each other. Theother fins and flukes were normal in appearance.DIAGNOSISI Significant diseases or conditions thought to contribute to the death of the animal- physical trauma, bycatchII Incidental diseases or conditions not thought to contribute to the death or condition causing it- extra teeth in upper L/R dental arcadesComments:This adult male common dolphin was in good nutritional condition at death and was found floating at seaby the Greenpeace ship MV Esperanza and subsequently frozen prior to post mortem examination. Anumber of findings consistent with entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch) were found on post-mortemexamination. These included possible cutaneous netmarks, haemorrhage in the thoracic retia mirabile andevidence of recently ingested prey. It was impossible to say in this case which fishing activity may havebeen responsible for the animals’ death. No evidence to support an alternative cause of death was found.This report is based on gross findings and may be modified after the laboratory findings are known.Laboratory results pending: virology, morbillivirus detection, histology.Rob DeavilleLondon, (20/12/05).38