Records from the Irish Whale and Dolphin GroupAuthor(s): T. Bruton and S. BerrowSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 24, No. 12 (Oct., 1994), pp. 511-512Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25535883 .

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Ir. Nat. J. Vol. 24 No. 12 1994 511

EUPHROSYNE DOLPHIN STENELLA COERULEOALBA (MEYEN)

Two fresh strandings of striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba in early 1994 constitute the first

occurrences of this species along the Sligo coast. The first was washed up onto Rosses Point beach

(G6240) on 3 January 1994 (Mr Harry Ewing pers. comm.) and was inspected by myself on 4 January after information had been received from Mr Brian Roche. It was a female measuring 1.7m long

which clearly showed the two characteristic dark stripes running from the eye to the pectoral flipper and from the eye to the area around the vent. The clarity of the markings suggested that it was freshly dead and this opinion was supported by the fact that fresh blood was dripping from damage to the beak. It is likely that this damage was caused by dogs after the stranding as there were many dog foot

prints in the sand around the head. The loss of the tip of the jaw made accurate tooth counts impossible but extrapolating from the 30 teeth in the lower L jaw one could have originally expected over 40 teeth in total.

The second stranding was at Raghly, Co Sligo (G5841) and was discovered by Mr Michael Bruen on 6 February 1994. I visited it the next day and was impressed by the nearly perfect condition of the carcass. This was a male, also measuring 1.7m and with the characteristic stripes of S. coeruleoalba as

described for the first specimen. Both sides of each jaw had between 42 and 47 teeth.

Rathrowan House, Rathaberna, Co Sligo DON C. F. COTTON

A somewhat decomposed dolphin was discovered on Keel Strand, Achill Island, Co. Mayo (F6404) on 15 February 1994 and was identified as S. coeruleoalba from its markings, including the characteristic dark lines running back from the eye, and the number of teeth (40 in the R upper and in

the right lower jaw). Measurements taken were: length 1.34m, centre of back fin to tail 0.53, height of

back fin 0.45m, tip of beak to blowhole 0.27m, length of R flipper 0.20m.

Dooagh, Achill Island, Co Mayo JOHN O'SHEA

RECORDS FROM THE IRISH WHALE AND DOLPHIN GROUP

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

S. BERROW, 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.

Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepede 1 male. Stranded 29.6.93. Elly Bay, Co Mayo (F6325). 'Song of Whale' Team.

1 female 9.4m. Stranded alive 11.7.93. Portstewart Strand, Co Londonderry. (C8136). Died 3h

later. R. Ruddock.

Common purpoise Phocaena phocaena (L.). 1 male 1.25m. Stranded 10.12.91. Courtmacsherry Bay, Co Cork (W5543). S. Berrow, C. Harte.

1 female 1.24m. Stranded 5.12.92. Croneen Strand, nrBallycotton, Co Cork (W9161). P. Smiddy, E. Rogan. 1 female 1.43m. Stranded 9.1.93. Long Strand, Co Cork (W3334). P. Sleeman, E. Rogan, O.

Kiely. 1 male 1.22m. Stranded 14.2.93. Trebolgan, Co Cork (W838600). F. Gallagher. 1 female 1.33m. Stranded 15.2.93, Fountainstown, Co Cork (W785580). D. Johnston.

1 unsexed 1.30m. Stranded 16.2.93. Rostellen, Co Cork (W867655). S. Berrow, E. Rogan. 1 male 1.38m. Standed 20.3.93. Kilkee, Co Clare (Q8860). M. diLucia, E. Rogan, S. Berrow.

1 male 1.58m. Stranded 29.3.93. Inch Strand, Co Cork (W8760). F. Gallagher. 1 male 1.45m. Stranded 6.6.93. Bettystown, Co Meath (01674). S. Berrow, J. Woodlock, O.

Meme.

1 unsexed 1.64m. Stranded 20.9.93. Cadogans Strand, Schull Bay, Co Cork (V938319). D.

O'Donnell.

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512 Ir. Nat. J. Vol. 24 No. 12 1994

Pilot whale Globiocephala melaena (Traill) 1 unsexed. Stranded 5.93 nr Killala, Co Mayo (G2232). R. Longfield. 1 male c6m. Stranded 29.8.93. Caherdaniel, Co Kerry (V5358). D. O'Leary.

Bottle-nosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus (Montagu) 1 female c2m. Stranded 23.8.93. Carrigaholt, Co Clare (Q8349). S. Berrow, W. Hanafin.

White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris Gray 1 female c2.5m. Stranded 6.5.93. Waterville, Co Kerry (V4967). S. Berrow, O. McAullife.

1 female with foetus female 2.39m. Stranded 6.5.93. Camp, Co Kerry (Q699105). S. Berrow, K.

Flannery.

White-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus (Gray) 1 female 1 unsexed. Stranded alive 17.1.94. Kinnegar, Belfast Lough, Co. Down (J387787).

Female died quickly; other one successfully encouraged back to sea by R. Hamilton, U.S.P.C.A.

Officer. T. Bruton.

Common dolphin Delphinus delphis L. 1 female c2m. Stranded 18?2.92. Oysterhaven, Co Cork (W6848). S. Berrow, E. Rogan, N. Gotto.

1 female 1.81m. Stranded 4.10.92. Aughrusbeg, Co Galway (L5558). J. Farrel.

1 female 1.98m. Stranded alive but died later 19.10.92. Rossbrin Cove, Co Cork (V9832). S.

Berrow, A. Stott, D. O'Donnell.

1 female 2.03m. Stranded 2.2.93. Dun an Oir, Co Kerry (Q3508). K. Flannery, E. Rogan. 1 female 1.76m. Stranded 10.4.93. Cummeen, Allihies, Co Cork (V5846). S. Berrow, P. Durrell.

1 female 1.93m. Stranded 31.7.93. Nr Bantry, Co Cork (V995535). M. O'Sullivan, S. Berrow.

Euphrosyne dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen) 1 male 1.58m. Stranded 26.1.93. Foylemore Strand, Co Kerry (Q5314). K. Flannery, E. Rogan,

M. Collins.

1 male 1.87m. Stranded 31.8.93. Carrigaholt, Co Clare (Q8451). A. Casey, S. Berrow, E. Rogan.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES

DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR LAND PLANARIANS (TRICLADIDA: TERRICOLA) FROM SLIGO AND LEITRIM

Recent years have seen an increase in interest in the Irish land planarians with Anderson R. (1986 Ir. Nat. J. 22: 141-146) providing a comprehensive review of the subject and Jones, H. D. (1988

Prog. Zool. 36: 511-516) briefly considering the Irish species in a wider British Isles context. A

number of other authors document the continuing spread of two introduced species, Geoplana

sanguinea (Moseley) and Artioposthia triangulata (Dendy) and Irwin, A. G. (1992 Ir. Nat. J. 24:

106-108) confirms the presence of the alien Rhynchodemus sylvaticus (Leidy) in Ireland. I have been

encountering two species, Microplana terrestris (Miiller) and Microplana scharffi (Graff) in Sligo and Leitrim for many years but only became aware of their identities in 1992. Since then I have kept a

note of any land planarians I encountered, details of which are given below. New vice-county records

are denoted by an asterisk (*).

Geoplana sanguinea (Moseley) Co Sligo (H28): *Clogher stone fort, M6698, 28 July 1992, D. C. F. Cotton. Rathaberna, G696400, 12 October 1992, three specimens under stone in garden, D, C. F. Cotton. Drumaskibbole, G6831,19

October 1992, under stone in disturbed Phragmites bed. Drumcliffe Estuary at Doonierin, G6640, 2

January 1993, three specimens under stone just above HWM, accompanied by littoral amphipods.

Tobernault, G7132, 15 February 1993, under stone in garden centre. Cams, G7033, 26 February

1993, frequent under stone in disturbed calcareous grassland. Sligo, G6934, 1 March 1993, under

pots in garden centre. Maugheraboy, G677351, 26 December 1993, under stone in field. Deadman's

Point, G626398, 27 December 1993, under stone in coastal grassland. At the Cams site I found

mating individuals in February and small immatures were present in late March. Despite the relative

wetness of summer 1993 the animals appear to have retreated into the soil, and could not be relocated

at this site until September 1993.

Co Leitrim (H29): *Fivemilebourne, G7836, 9 March 1993, one under stone in disused quarry. Drumsna, M9997, 5 October 1993, two immature specimens under stone in field.

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