Image: Rough-toothed Dolphin injured by Cookiecutter Shark

Rough-toothed Dolphin injured by Cookiecutter Shark

A Rough-toothed Dolphin, Steno bredanensis, with a wound on the side of the body that was probably made by a Cookie-cutter Shark. The dolphin was stranded near Port Macquarie in 1976. The photograph was taken at the Port Macquarie Dolphinarium.

Photographer:
Sylvia Adam
Rights:
© Sylvia Adam
Order:
Cetacea

Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Cookiecutter Shark, Isistius brasiliensis, Isistius plutodus, Dalatiidae, Delphinidae, Sousa plumbea, Hump-backed Dolphin, Rough-toothed Dolphin, Steno bredanensis,

4 comments

Mark McGrouther - 12.04 PM, 12 April 2011

Hi again ianam1983.  I have heard back from both the mammals collection manager, Dr Sandy Ingleby and the person who kindly supplied the image to me, Sylvia Adam.  Both agree with your identification.  Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention.  I will change the names appropriately right away ... hopefully it will be done before you read this post :).

ianam1983 - 7.04 AM, 12 April 2011
Glad I could've helped. I'm an amateur, but cetaceans are my specialty. I do think I see the cause of confusion - there is a humpback dolphin in the background, which I didn't notice until someone pointed it out.
Rebecca Field - 7.04 AM, 12 April 2011

Hi ianam1983.  Thank you very much for your comment.  I am 'only' the fish guy so will pass your comment onto our mammals collection manager for an in-house expert opinion .  I'll add another comment as soon as I hear back.  Watch this space.  Thanks again.

ianam1983 - 1.04 AM, 12 April 2011
Lovely photograph! However, the dolphin in question is in fact a rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis. Dorsal fin aside, the sloped forehead and lack of demarcation on the rostrum are diagnostic, as are the protruding "goggle" eyes. For comparison: http://marinebio.org/upload/_05/Steno_bredanensis1.jpg http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/Leaping%20Steno%20pair%20Oct%2029%20RWb.jpg VS humpback: http://www.leszoosdanslemonde.com/leszoosdanslemonde/moyen_orient/emirats_arabes_unis/sharjah_desert_internship/week_10/sharjah_week_10_bahrain_dolphin_resort_4_small.jpg

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