Title

Growth of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon System, Florida, USA

Authors

Authors

M. K. Stolen; D. K. Odell;N. B. Barros

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Mar. Mamm. Sci.

Keywords

Tursiops truncatus; bottlenose dolphin; growth; Gompertz model; sexual; dimorphism; NOSED DOLPHINS; SEXUAL DIMORPHISM; EAST-COAST; AGE; MAMMALS; REPRODUCTION; CURVES; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Zoology

Abstract

Gompertz growth models were fitted to total lengths and ages from tooth sections of 199 stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon system, eastern Florida. Based on the model, dolphins from this population are estimated to be born at 119 cm and reach asymptotic length at 250 cm. No apparent pubescent growth acceleration was noted for either sex. Males appeared to grow to slightly longer lengths than females. There were small size differences between Indian River dolphins and those in Texas and Sarasota, indicating general size similarities between North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico bottlenose dolphins stocks.

Journal Title

Marine Mammal Science

Volume

18

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

348

Last Page

357

WOS Identifier

WOS:000175164000003

ISSN

0824-0469

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