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

    Authors

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

    Comments

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    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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