MASS STRANDING OF PILOT WHALES IN THE GULF OF MANNAR


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Authors

  • K Alagarswami Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
  • P Bensam Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
  • M E Rajapandian Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
  • A Bastian Fernando Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin

Abstract

Many Indian pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhyncha, were stranded in a
shallow bay in the Gulf-of Mannar at Manapad on 14 January 1973. This is the second
recorded instance of stranding of pilot whales ou the Indian coasts, in which a casualty of
147 individuals is involved; the earlier one was at Serampore on the Hooghly River.
The dead whales had a size range "of 220-575 cm. General morphological and diagnostic
skeletal features of the pilot whales are given and discussed. Autopsy and
chemical examination proved neptive for the presence of poisonous substances in the
tissues of the stranded animals. The mass stranding at Manapad is discussed with
reference to similar phenomenon among the pilot whales noticed in other parts of
the world

Author Biographies

  • K Alagarswami, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
    Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
  • P Bensam, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
    Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
  • M E Rajapandian, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
    Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
  • A Bastian Fernando, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin
    Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sub-station, Tuticorin

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Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (1973)

Section

Articles

License

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How to Cite

Alagarswami, K., Bensam, P., Rajapandian, M. E., & Fernando, A. B. (2011). MASS STRANDING OF PILOT WHALES IN THE GULF OF MANNAR. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 20(2), 269-279. https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJF/article/view/12396