OSTEOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE SPERM WHALE PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS LINNAEUS FROM INDIAN OCEAN


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Authors

  • P S B R James Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin
  • R Soundararajan Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin

Abstract

The skeleton of a miafe sperm will? lie, Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus
(8.1 m) which was stranded on the southern side of Rmisadiai Island" (Gulf of
Mannar) on 30th April 1980, is described in detail. The salient features are a
trough-shaped asymmertrical skull, long 'V shaped mandible, a vertebral column
consisting of seven cervical vertebrae (six of them fused, the first free), eleven
thoracic vertebrae with only ten ribs, eight lumbar vertebrae and 23 caudal vertebrae
with ten chevron bones attached between 3rd and 4th caudal vertebrae and
fairly large forelimbs. Comparison of the skull of this specimen (8.1 m) with that
of another male of an estimated length of 17. 4 m did not reveal any essential
differences due to age. The osteofagical features in which the present material differs
from others on record from elsewhere are mentioned.

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Author Biographies

  • P S B R James, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin
    Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin
  • R Soundararajan, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin
    Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin

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Issue

Vol. 28 No. 1 & 2 (1981)

Section

Articles

License

The copyright of the articles published in Indian Journal of Fisheries vests with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, who has the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad engaged in reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information contained in these journals. The Council has no objection in using the material, provided the information is being utilized for academic purpose but not for commercial use. Due credit line should be given to the ICAR where information will be utilized.

How to Cite

James, P. S. B. R., & Soundararajan, R. (2011). OSTEOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE SPERM WHALE PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS LINNAEUS FROM INDIAN OCEAN. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 28(1 & 2), 217-232. https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJF/article/view/11944