Killer whale (Orcinus orca) occurrence in Venezuelan waters, 1982-2008

Bolaños‐Jiménez, Jaime; Fertl, Dagmar; Íñiguez, Miguel A.

doi:10.5597/lajam00138

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…No seasonal variation was apparent from the sighting data. Its common occurrence in shallow waters near the coast is consistent with observations of this species in Colombia (Pardo & Palacios, 2006; Fraija et al, 2009) and Venezuela (Oviedo & Silva, 2005; Bolaños-Jiménez et al, 2009a). Bottlenose dolphins are also common off both Curaçao and Bonaire (Debrot et al, 1998; Barros & Debrot, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Atlantic spotted dolphin, the most numerous and frequently encountered species in this study, was observed in all months of the year, indicating it is common in Aruban waters. It also is one of the most commonly encountered marine mammals in nearshore habitats in Colombia (Pardo & Palacios, 2006; Fraija et al, 2009) and Venezuela (Bolaños-Jiménez et al, 2006, 2009a) but it has not yet been reported for Curaçao and Bonaire (Debrot et al, 1998; Barros & Debrot, 2006). All adult individuals observed in Aruba were heavily spotted, consistent with coastal populations of this species in Central and South America (Perrin et al, 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The cetaceans of Aruba, southern Caribbean

Luksenburg

2013

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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Aruba is one of the most densely populated islands in the Caribbean. However, very little is known about its cetaceans. In 2010 and 2011, a total of 19721 km (1686 h) boat-based surveys over nearshore transects resulted in 117 positively-identified sightings comprising eight species. New records are also added for one of three previously-documented species. Five additional species were documented from strandings or reports by others. This brings the total number of cetacean species identified in Aruban waters to 16, of which nine are authenticated here for the first time. Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis (N ¼ 59) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) (N ¼ 33) were the most frequently observed species, with sightings of both year-round, followed by spinner dolphin (S. longirostris) and false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens). Additional species recorded are pantropical spotted dolphin (S. attenuata), striped dolphin (S. coeruleoalba), common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Bryde's/Eden's whale (Balaenoptera brydei/edeni), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and an unidentified beaked whale (Mesoplodon sp.). All cetaceans were sighted within 22 km of the coast in relatively shallow waters. Sighting rate was low (0.69 cetacean sightings per 100 km). Sightings of calves and neonates indicate that Aruba may be a nursing or breeding area for some species. The presence of several species of cetaceans in Aruba's coastal waters year-round indicates that status and threat assessments are needed to protect them.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The cetaceans of Aruba, southern Caribbean

Luksenburg

2013

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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“…In Venezuela, Bolaños‐Jiménez et al. () recorded 18 killer whale sightings, of which 15 occurred between December and May. They concluded there was not enough information to speculate on any seasonality in the presence of killer whales in Venezuelan waters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution, feeding habits and morphology of killer whales Orcinus orca in the Caribbean Sea

et al. 2014

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Killer whales Orcinus orca are found in all oceans of the world, but most of our knowledge on the species comes from studies conducted at higher latitudes. Studies on killer whales in the Caribbean have been scarce. We compiled 176 records of killer whales from the Caribbean, including 95 previously unreported records and 81 records recovered from the literature, consisting of 27 capture or kill records, 4 stranding records and 145 sighting records. Our results indicate that killer whales are widespread in the Caribbean Sea and can be found year‐round in the region. Mean group size was 3.7 animals. A diversity of prey items was recorded, including sea turtles and marine mammals and possibly fish. We cannot exclude ecotype or morphotype‐specific dietary specialization in the Caribbean population. A preliminary morphological analysis of 10 characters in 52 individuals from 21 different groups suggests that Caribbean killer whales do not represent any of the four Antarctic and subantarctic types, type 1 from the northwest Atlantic, or ‘resident’ and ‘transient’ killer whales from the northwest Pacific. Some Caribbean killer whales share a combination of characters typical of type 2 in the North Atlantic, whereas others share those typical of ‘offshore’ killer whales in the northwest Pacific. The significance of this is unclear. Comparison of Caribbean killer whales to previously described morphotypes and ecotypes is hampered by the lack of detailed, quantitative data on variation within other types, as well as by the lack of comparisons of genetic diversity. Our study adds to the growing knowledge of the diversity of killer whales worldwide but underscores that additional research is warranted in the tropics.

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“…Killer whales have been observed in the Caribbean mainly during the northern spring season (1 March to 31 May, 35%) and the rainy tropical season (April to November, 62%), with the highest number in April (15%) and the lowest in September (3%), but no differences between seasons were found (Bolaños-Jiménez et al 2014). In Venezuelan waters O. orca was predominantly observed between December and May (83%) (Bolaños-Jiménez et al 2009). The timing of the record from the present study (22 March 2015) is consistent with the months in which killer whales are mostly observed in the Caribbean, but the opportunistic nature of this and curvada hacia atrás y redondeada en la punta.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new sighting of killer whale, Orcinus orca, in Caribbean inshore waters off Colombia

Franco-L¹,

Delgadillo-G²

2021

Cienc. Mar.

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Killer whales, Orcinus orca, are known to be one of the most widespread cetaceans, inhabiting all the oceans of the world, but their presence in the Southern Caribbean has been scarcely recorded up to date. An unusual sighting of a killer whale is described for the first time in inshore waters of the Gulf of Morrosquillo. The whale was sighted on 22 March 2015 and it was a solitary individual of unrecognized sex that showed ongoing diving and surfacing behavior at a site 6.3 km from the coast with depths between 20 and 24 m. Its occurrence could be related to favorable environmental and oceanographic conditions and to the potential effect of recent seismic offshore oil and gas operations in the gulf, which may impact a whale’s location and behavior. This report contributes to the scarcity of information about the distribution of O. orca in the Caribbean Sea along the coast of Colombia.

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Killer whale (Orcinus orca) occurrence in Venezuelan waters, 1982-2008

Cited by 5 publications

References 6 publications

The cetaceans of Aruba, southern Caribbean

The cetaceans of Aruba, southern Caribbean

Distribution, feeding habits and morphology of killer whales Orcinus orca in the Caribbean Sea

A new sighting of killer whale, Orcinus orca, in Caribbean inshore waters off Colombia

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