Why are the bodies of the Risso's dolphin covered in scratches?
up vote
16
down vote
favorite
Risso's dolphin in wild population seem to obtain scratches with aging. What is causing them and what do they mean?
zoology marine-biology
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
favorite
Risso's dolphin in wild population seem to obtain scratches with aging. What is causing them and what do they mean?
zoology marine-biology
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
favorite
up vote
16
down vote
favorite
Risso's dolphin in wild population seem to obtain scratches with aging. What is causing them and what do they mean?
zoology marine-biology
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
Risso's dolphin in wild population seem to obtain scratches with aging. What is causing them and what do they mean?
zoology marine-biology
zoology marine-biology
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
edited Nov 30 at 22:12
aaaaaa
2,620423
2,620423
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
asked Nov 30 at 19:18
Mackenzie Smith
1212
1212
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
[ From Jefferson et al. 2015, Marine Mammals of the World, 2nd edition, p 212: "At sea, the best identification characteristic is the coloration and scarring. Adult Risso's dolphins range from dark gray to nearly white, but are typically covered with white scratches, spots, and blotches. Many of these are thought to result from the beacks and suckers of squid, their major prey, but others may be caused by the teeth of other Risso's dolphins. If fact, this species is the most heavily-scarred of all the dolphins." ]
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
Although little is known about these animals, they seem to obtain these scars from scratching in fights with their prey, giant squid, and from the teeth of other Risso's dolphin.
https://uk.whales.org/species-guide/rissos-dolphin
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Most of the linear scars are thought to be caused by intraspecific interactions, e.g. scratches from each others teeth, though some more circular or oval scars are thought to come from squid. Cookie cutter scars are not commonly described for Risso's dolphins though they are common in other whales and dolphins.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. 2002. W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, J.G.M Thewissin. Academic Press: New York.
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "375"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fbiology.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f79437%2fwhy-are-the-bodies-of-the-rissos-dolphin-covered-in-scratches%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
[ From Jefferson et al. 2015, Marine Mammals of the World, 2nd edition, p 212: "At sea, the best identification characteristic is the coloration and scarring. Adult Risso's dolphins range from dark gray to nearly white, but are typically covered with white scratches, spots, and blotches. Many of these are thought to result from the beacks and suckers of squid, their major prey, but others may be caused by the teeth of other Risso's dolphins. If fact, this species is the most heavily-scarred of all the dolphins." ]
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
[ From Jefferson et al. 2015, Marine Mammals of the World, 2nd edition, p 212: "At sea, the best identification characteristic is the coloration and scarring. Adult Risso's dolphins range from dark gray to nearly white, but are typically covered with white scratches, spots, and blotches. Many of these are thought to result from the beacks and suckers of squid, their major prey, but others may be caused by the teeth of other Risso's dolphins. If fact, this species is the most heavily-scarred of all the dolphins." ]
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
[ From Jefferson et al. 2015, Marine Mammals of the World, 2nd edition, p 212: "At sea, the best identification characteristic is the coloration and scarring. Adult Risso's dolphins range from dark gray to nearly white, but are typically covered with white scratches, spots, and blotches. Many of these are thought to result from the beacks and suckers of squid, their major prey, but others may be caused by the teeth of other Risso's dolphins. If fact, this species is the most heavily-scarred of all the dolphins." ]
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
[ From Jefferson et al. 2015, Marine Mammals of the World, 2nd edition, p 212: "At sea, the best identification characteristic is the coloration and scarring. Adult Risso's dolphins range from dark gray to nearly white, but are typically covered with white scratches, spots, and blotches. Many of these are thought to result from the beacks and suckers of squid, their major prey, but others may be caused by the teeth of other Risso's dolphins. If fact, this species is the most heavily-scarred of all the dolphins." ]
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
edited Dec 12 at 2:02
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
answered Dec 1 at 0:46
Variegated Meadowhawk
1093
1093
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
3
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
Although little is known about these animals, they seem to obtain these scars from scratching in fights with their prey, giant squid, and from the teeth of other Risso's dolphin.
https://uk.whales.org/species-guide/rissos-dolphin
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
Although little is known about these animals, they seem to obtain these scars from scratching in fights with their prey, giant squid, and from the teeth of other Risso's dolphin.
https://uk.whales.org/species-guide/rissos-dolphin
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Although little is known about these animals, they seem to obtain these scars from scratching in fights with their prey, giant squid, and from the teeth of other Risso's dolphin.
https://uk.whales.org/species-guide/rissos-dolphin
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
Although little is known about these animals, they seem to obtain these scars from scratching in fights with their prey, giant squid, and from the teeth of other Risso's dolphin.
https://uk.whales.org/species-guide/rissos-dolphin
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
answered Nov 30 at 20:33
RHA
3,1341026
3,1341026
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Most of the linear scars are thought to be caused by intraspecific interactions, e.g. scratches from each others teeth, though some more circular or oval scars are thought to come from squid. Cookie cutter scars are not commonly described for Risso's dolphins though they are common in other whales and dolphins.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. 2002. W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, J.G.M Thewissin. Academic Press: New York.
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Most of the linear scars are thought to be caused by intraspecific interactions, e.g. scratches from each others teeth, though some more circular or oval scars are thought to come from squid. Cookie cutter scars are not commonly described for Risso's dolphins though they are common in other whales and dolphins.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. 2002. W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, J.G.M Thewissin. Academic Press: New York.
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Most of the linear scars are thought to be caused by intraspecific interactions, e.g. scratches from each others teeth, though some more circular or oval scars are thought to come from squid. Cookie cutter scars are not commonly described for Risso's dolphins though they are common in other whales and dolphins.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. 2002. W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, J.G.M Thewissin. Academic Press: New York.
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Most of the linear scars are thought to be caused by intraspecific interactions, e.g. scratches from each others teeth, though some more circular or oval scars are thought to come from squid. Cookie cutter scars are not commonly described for Risso's dolphins though they are common in other whales and dolphins.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. 2002. W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, J.G.M Thewissin. Academic Press: New York.
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Dec 11 at 14:21
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
answered Dec 10 at 22:02
Melissa
1353
1353
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Melissa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
3
3
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
Hi and welcome to Bio.SE. Thanks for posting. However, please provide support for your claims. Unsupported posts come across as opinions and are best reserved for comments. We have high expectations of good answers on this site to help avoid the spread of misinformation. Please consider revising your answer to provide some sort of support to attract more positive attention and to better (and more accurately) inform our future visitors. Thanks!
– theforestecologist
Dec 10 at 23:30
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Biology Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fbiology.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f79437%2fwhy-are-the-bodies-of-the-rissos-dolphin-covered-in-scratches%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
