Records from the Irish Whale and Dolphin GroupAuthor(s): T. Bruton and E. RoganSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 25, No. 8 (Oct., 1996), pp. 296-297Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25536040 .

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296 Ir. Nat. J. Vol. 25 No. 8 1996

RISSO'S DOLPHIN GRAMPUS GRISEUS (CUVIER)

On 6 July 1996, at 17.00h, a party of 12 Risso's dolphins was observed passing slowly S close

to Great Skellig, Co Kerry (V2561). 8 X 30 and 10 X 40mm binoculars were used to watch the

dolphins, and as the sea was calm and the water very clear the animals could be seen clearly while

under the surface. Eight of them were adults, four of which (presumably females) were closely

accompanied by young. The young were between one-third and half the length of their mothers'

flanks. Some of the animals briefly detoured from their southerly bearing to come close in to the

cliffs, from where we looked down on them at close range from less than 100m.

The full-grown dolphins were estimated to be c3.5m long. Their foreheads had a prominent

bulge, and there was no beak. The dorsal fin was long and sickle-shaped, with a pale stripe behind

the anterior edge, and was located about half way along the back. The upperparts were mid-grey, while the underparts were whitish. Three of the adults, including two unaccompanied by calves, were very white on the upperparts between the dorsal fin and the forehead. Several of the adult

animals had scars on their bodies. The flippers were relatively long and pointed.

National Parks & Wildlife Service, OSCAR J. MERNE 51 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, ALYN WALSH North Slob, Wexford

BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS (MONTAGU)

On 28 August 1985 MLO'C examined a dolphin, in poor condition, on the shore at

Ballinamuddagh, nr Glin, Co Limerick (R1248). The animal was 3.00m long; the body was rather

robust in form; the tail stock was uncompressed; and on the left side of the head there were 22 teeth

on the upper jaw and 20 on the lower. This combination of characters identified the animal as a

bottle-nosed dolphin.

Strand Lodge, Glin, Co Limerick M. L. O'CONNOR

Department of Zoology, University College, Galway J. S. FAIRLEY

WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN LAGENORHYNCHUS ACUTUS (GRAY)

On 26 September 1996 the body of a dolphin, 2.0m long, in a fairly fresh condition was found at Foyle Harbour (L706384), SW of Roundstone, Co Galway. Its underside was white, and the back, snout and flippers black, with a somewhat paler, yellowish streak on the flank extending from below

the back fin to the tail stock, which was strongly compressed laterally. There was a black stripe

running from the flipper towards the mouth. The beak was marked off from the rest of the head by a groove. There were many teeth in both jaws; 40 were counted on the L lower jaw, with a gap towards the posterior end of the row which could have accommodated a further six. The above

combination of characters is diagnostic for a white-sided dolphin.

Ellistrim, Roundstone, Co Galway R.PRICE

Department of Zoology, University College, Galway J. S. FAIRLEY

RECORDS FROM THE IRISH WHALE AND DOLPHIN GROUP

Compilers: T. BRUTON Department of Zoology, Ulster Museum, Belfast.

E, ROGAN Department of Zoology, University College, Cork. All records below have been submitted with adequate documentation and/or photographs to put

identification beyond doubt. The dates given are those on which the animals were observed. Unless

otherwise stated a linear measurement refers to the length of the specimen.

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Ir. Nat. J. Vol. 25 No. 8 1996 297

Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepede 1 male. 4.01m. Stranded 1.7.95 Baltray Beach, Co Louth (0316278). B. Branigan. 1 female. 19.2m. Stranded 17.11.94 Ballyheigue, Co Kerry (Q7528). T. Healy.

Common porpoise Phocaena phocaena (L) I male. 1.8m. Stranded summer 95 Elly Bay, Co Mayo (F6325). C. Nadarajah, O. Kiely. 1 female. 0.84m. Stranded 24.7.95 Leckenvy Pier, Co Mayo (L888829). M. Sweeny. 1 female elm aboard boat alive but ill 15.8.95 Carrickfmn, Co Donegal (B7724). R. Ruddock.

1 unsexed. 1.47m. Stranded 23.8.95 Waterville, Co Kerry (V5066). R. Rudd.

I unsexed. 1.23m. Stranded 10.12.95 Ballycotton, Co Cork (W9865). E. Rogan, C. Lordan.

1 male. 1.20m. Stranded 12.1.96 South Strand, Rush, Co Dublin (02853). J. Woodlock.

1 female, lm. Stranded 28.1.96 Stricklands Glen, Bangor, Co Down (J4982). T. Bruton.

I male. 1.28m. Stranded 5.2.96 Ballybranagan Strand, Co Cork (W9161). P. Smiddy. 1 male. 1.34m. Stranded 15.2.96 Dunmore East, Co Waterford (S6800). E. Rogan, O, Kiely. 1 female. 1.37m. Stranded 1.3.96 Ardmore, Co Waterford (XI978). P. Smiddy. 1 male. 1.57m. Stranded 16.4.96 nr Ballyhalbert, Co Down (J6467). T. Bruton.

1 male. 1.10m. Stranded 25.3.96 Tinnaberna, Co Wexford (T1738) D. Berridge.

Killer whale Orcinus area (L.)

Male and female. 8.7.92 3km SW of Tory Island, Co Donegal (B8242) heading N.W.

Photographed, L. Millar.

Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus (Cuvier)

1 female (2.98m) containing near term female foetus (1.24m). Stranded 11,5.96 Port Arthur, Co

Donegal (B798285). F. Mulraney, E. Rogan, I. Gassner.

1 male. 2.42m. Stranded 14.5.96 Ferrypoint, Co Waterford (XI177). P. Smiddy, I. Gassner.

White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris (Gray) 1 male, 1.98m. Stranded 25.4.96 Elly Bay, Co Mayo (F6325). V. Sweeny, I. Gassner.

White-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus (Gray) 1 female. 2.49m. Stranded 14.6.96 Gweedore Bay, Co Donegal (B7825). N. Duff, S. McGinty.

Common dolphin Delphi ruts delphis L. 1 female. 1.21m. Stranded 31.1.94 Killybegs, Co Donegal (G6873), E. Rogan, S. Moran.

1 female. 2.08m. Stranded 4.2.94 Dunquin, Co Kerry (Q0032). K. Flannery. 1 female. 1.87m. Stranded 6.2.94 Renvyle, Co Galway (L6664). S. Berrow, E. Rogan. 1 male. 2.20m. Stranded 26.7.95 Pilmore Strand, Co Cork (X0773). P. Smiddy. 1 female. 1.90m. 1 male 1.71 m. Stranded alive 5/6.10.94. Died 6.10.94 Dunkannelly, Inver Bay,

Co Donegal (G793762). J. Gattins. 1 male. 2.13m. Stranded 2.12.95 Pilmore, Co Cork (X0773). P. Smiddy. 1 unsexed. 1.99m. Stranded 22.3.96 Ballymacoda, Co Cork (X0572). P. Smiddy. 1 male. 1.86m. Stranded alive 1.6.96 Hord Head Bridge, Portnablagh, Co Donegal (C0137). C.

O'Keeffe, B. Holmes.

1 unsexed 1.5m. Stranded 4.6.96 Ballmona Strand, Ballycotton, Co Cork (W9963). P. Smiddy, R. Rogan, I. Gassner.

Euphrosyne dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen) 1 male 2.21 m. Stranded alive 13,10.95. Observed dead 15.10.95 Kilronan, Aran Islands, Co

Galway (L8708). B. Gage. 1 female. 2.14m. Stranded alive 21,11.95. Died 22.11.95 Whitestrand, Renvyle, Co Galway (L685635). G. O'Donnell, S. Hasset.

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