Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Arabian Sea
Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Arabian Sea
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DOI：
10.3354/meps149013
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发表时间：
1997-04-01
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Mikhalev, YA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Mikhalev, YA
阿拉伯海座头鲸 Megaptera novaeangliae 的种群身份长期以来一直存在争议。根据苏联主要在 1966 年 11 月进行的捕鲸和观察，该地区提供了新的信息。当月，阿曼、巴基斯坦和印度西北部海岸总共有 238 头座头鲸被杀死； 1965 年，另外 4 头鲸鱼被杀死。对这些鲸鱼的生物学检查表明，它们在体型、颜色、身体疤痕和病理学方面与南极座头鲸有显着差异。此外，对 38 个胎儿的长度分布的分析表明，阿拉伯海鲸鱼的生殖周期明显与北半球种群的生殖周期相同。雄性平均长度为 12.8 m（范围：9.5 至 14.9 m，n = 126），雌性平均长度为 13.3 m（范围：9.5 至 15.2 m，n = 112）。所有体长12.5m或以上的鲸鱼均已性成熟。在接受检查的 97 名女性中，有 12 名（12.4%）未成熟。 85 只成熟雌性中，39 只（45.9%）处于怀孕状态，3 只（3.5%）处于哺乳期，43 只（50.6%）处于休息状态。根据哺乳期女性代表性不足的情况进行调整后，更合理的怀孕率估计为 39%。大多数检查的胃中都含有食物，包括磷虾和鱼。总体而言，这里提供的数据有力地证明，阿拉伯海座头鲸构成了一个全年生活在热带水域的离散种群，这种情况对于该物种来说是独一无二的。
The population identity of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Arabian Sea has long been a matter of dispute. New information is presented from this region, based upon whaling and observations conducted by the Soviet Union, primarily in November 1966. In that month, a total of 238 humpbacks were killed off the coasts of Oman, Pakistan and northwestern India; 4 others were killed in 1965. Biological examination of these whales showed that they differed significantly from Antarctic humpbacks in terms of size, coloration, body scars and pathology. In addition, analysis of the length distribution of 38 foetuses indicates that the reproductive cycle of the Arabian Sea whales was unequivocally that of a northern hemisphere population. Mean lengths were 12.8 m for males (range: 9.5 to 14.9 m, n = 126) and 13.3 m for females (range: 9.5 to 15.2 m, n = 112). All whales 12.5 m or more in length were sexually mature. Among 97 females examined, 12 (12.4%) were immature. Of the 85 mature females, 39 (45.9%) were pregnant, 3 (3.5%) were lactating, and 43 (50.6%) were resting. A more plausible pregnancy rate, adjusted for underrepresentation of lactating females, was estimated at 39%. A majority of stomachs examined contained food, including euphausiids and fish. Overall, the data presented here argue strongly that Arabian Sea humpbacks constitute a discrete population which remains in tropical waters year-round, a situation which is unique for this species.