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Overview
Brief Summary
Description
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Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account
- Original description: Peale, T.R., 1848. U.S. exploring expeditions 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 under the command of Charles Wilkes, U.S.N., Mammalogy and Ornithology, 8:35. Asherman and Co., Philadelphia, 8:1-338.
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Distribution
Range Description
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Geographic Range
These cetaceans are found only in the northern Pacific Ocean, between the latitudes 35 degrees North and 51 degrees North.
Biogeographic Regions: pacific ocean (Native )
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Distribution
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UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms
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National Distribution
Canada
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Transient
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: North Pacific Ocean, mainly in moderate temperate waters. Mainly British Columbia to Baja California, Kuril Islands to Japan in western Pacific; sometimes north to Aleutians and Gulf of Alaska; in the eastern Pacific, apparently most common off central and southern California; at least as far south as 35 degrees north in the central Pacific (Jefferson and Newcomer 1993). Rare in Canadian waters (Baird and Stacey 1991). Eastern and western Pacific populations may be separated by an area of very low density south of the western Aleutians (Leatherwood and Reeves 1983).
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Northern right whale dolphins have an unusually slender body shape, and they do not have a dorsal fin or ridge. They have small, curved flippers, and small flukes. They are mostly black, but they have a well defined white band on their belly. Males and females have the same body shape and color pattern, the only sexually dimorphism being that males can attain greater length (up to 3 meters) and weight than females.
Range mass: 90 to 113 kg.
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Size
Size in North America
Range: 2-3.1 m males; 2-2.6 m females
Weight:
Range: up to 113 kg
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Groups of northern right whale dolphins mixed with other marine mammals, especially Pacific-white-sided dolphins (with which they share a nearly identical range) and Risso’s dolphins, are not uncommon (Baird and Stacey 1991).
Although market squid and lanternfish are the major prey items for northern right whale dolphins off southern California, a variety of other species are taken by this species throughout the range. These include various species of cephalopods, hakes, sauries, and several species of surface and midwater fishes.
Systems
- Marine
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Habitat
These animals live in deep continental shelf and offshore waters where the temperatures vary between 8 and 24 degrees C. They approach shore only where very deep water can be found near the coast.
Aquatic Biomes: benthic
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Habitat
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UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms
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Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 446 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0 - 0
Temperature range (°C): 11.144 - 16.503
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.204 - 4.675
Salinity (PPS): 30.381 - 33.496
Oxygen (ml/l): 5.646 - 6.583
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.330 - 0.800
Silicate (umol/l): 1.436 - 16.169
Graphical representation
Temperature range (°C): 11.144 - 16.503
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.204 - 4.675
Salinity (PPS): 30.381 - 33.496
Oxygen (ml/l): 5.646 - 6.583
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.330 - 0.800
Silicate (umol/l): 1.436 - 16.169
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Habitat Type: Marine
Comments: Relatively deep continental shelf and offshore waters with temperatures of 8-24 C (see Jefferson and Newcomer 1993). Favors deeper-water habitats but does approach shore at the heads of deep canyons, especially in winter (Leatherwood and Reeves 1983).
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Migration
Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.
Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
Distribution tends to shift south and inshore during cooler months, north and offshore summer through fall; movement possibly are related to the availability of spawning squid (Leatherwood and Reeves 1983, Jefferson and Newcomer 1993).
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Northern right whale dolphins feed mainly on squid and lanternfish, but they also eat other kinds of fish.
Animal Foods: fish; mollusks
Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Molluscivore )
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Comments: Most common food items are market squid and lanternfish; other prey includes other squids, Pacific hake, saury, and epi- and mesopelagic fishes of the families Centrolophidae, Melamphaidae, Bathylagidae, and Paralepididae (Leatherwood and Reeves 1983, Jefferson and Newcomer 1993).
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Population Biology
Global Abundance
100,000 - 1,000,000 individuals
Comments: One of the most abundant oceanic dolphins in the temperate North Pacific (Leatherwood and Reeves 1983). Preliminary estimate of total population: 247,000-535,000 (Mangel, cited by Jefferson and Newcomer 1993). Hiramatsu (1991) estimated the population at 535,000 (95% confidence interval 394,000-738,000). Several 10,000s off California (see Jefferson and Newcomer 1993).
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General Ecology
Travels in groups of up to several thousand; average group size about 100 (eastern Pacific) to 200 (western Pacific). Commonly associates with other cetaceans, especially the Pacific white-sided dolphin. Tends to avoid boats but may bowride. Fast swimmer.
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Life History and Behavior
Reproduction
Reproduction
Virtually nothing is known about reproduction or mating in this species.
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Newborn are most commonly reported in winter or early spring; sexually mature at length of about 2 m (Leatherwood and Reeves 1983, Jefferson and Newcomer 1993). Based on samples caught in squid driftnets in the central North Pacific, about half of females were mature; among mature females, 16% were pregnant, 3% were pregnant and lactating, 33% were post partum, 24% were lactating (no recent pregnancy), 10% were resting, and 14% were of unknown condition; gestation period was 12.1-12.3 months; calving appeared to peak in July and August; average of sexual maturity was 10 years; the oldest male was 27 years old, the oldest female 42 years old; minimum calving interval was 2 years (Ferrero and Walker 1993).
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Lissodelphis borealis
There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen. Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.
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Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Lissodelphis borealis
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Justification
History
- 1996Lower Risk/least concern
- 1994Insufficiently Known(Groombridge 1994)
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Conservation Status
The North Pacific squid driftnet fishery operated out of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan targets northern right whale dolphins. It is estimated that between 1985 and 1990 this fishery took 15,000 to 20,000 dolphins per year. The population has been depleted to anywhere from 24 to 73 percent of its pre-exploitation size. A moratorium on high seas driftnets could allow population levels to increase to previous levels. This species is listed on CITES Appendix II.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NU - Unrankable
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure
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Trends
Population
Population Trend
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Global Short Term Trend: Decline of 30-70%
Comments: Current abundance is 24 to 73 percent of the abundance in 1978, depending on which estimate of current population is assumed (Mangel 1993).
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Threats
Threats
Incidental catches have also occurred in Japanese and Russian purse seines, Japanese salmon driftnets, and U.S. shark and swordfish driftnets. Small numbers have been killed in commercial and experimental salmon drift-net operations in the western and central Pacific (Jefferson et al. 1994). An estimated 386 northern right whale dolphins were killed between 1990 and 2002 in U.S. driftnets targeting sharks and swordfish off the California, Oregon and Washington (Julian and Beeson 1998, Carretta et al. 2005). A short-lived Canadian experimental driftnet fishery for flying squid killed a total of 13 in 1986 and 1987 (Jefferson et al. 1994). Northern right whale dolphins have also been observed entangled in net debris in the western Pacific. The total reported take of northern right whale dolphins by Japan in 1987 was 261 individuals, of which 254 were discarded as bycatch (Government of Japan 1989).
Northern right whale dolphins have never been subject to extensive directed hunt, although they have sometimes been taken in Japan’s small-cetacean fisheries. In the western Pacific, coastal fisheries off Japan have taken them for many years, with 465 reported killed in the harpoon fishery in 1949. Although this fishery mainly targets other small cetaceans, northern right whale dolphins continue to be taken (Jefferson et al. 1994).
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Comments: This is the major marine mammal taken incidently in the extensive squid driftnet fishery that operates out of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, which probably has greatly reduced the population in the western Pacific (take was estimated at 15,000-20,000 per year in the late 1980s); occasionally taken in salmon gillnet fisheries and in driftnets set for sharks and swordfish (Jefferson and Newcomer 1993).
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Management
Conservation Actions
The most significant conservation measure for this species was the United Nations (U.N.) moratorium on high-seas driftnet fishing. In the eastern North Pacific, the U.S drift gillnet fishery has been required since 1996 to use acoustic warning devices (pingers) to reduce cetacean bycatch, although low levels of bycatch of Lissodelphis borealis have continued (Carretta et al. 2005).
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The blubber from these animals is used to make oil.
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Economic Uses
Comments: Sometimes taken in Japanese harpoon fisheries (for human consumption) and Japanese and Russian purse-seine fisheries, but there is no fishery in which this species has been the main target (see Jefferson and Newcomer 1993). Generally has not done well in captivity.
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Risks
IUCN Red List Category
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IUCN (2008) Cetacean update of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=125373
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Wikipedia
Northern right whale dolphin
The Northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) is a small and slender species of marine mammal found in the North Pacific Ocean. The Northern right whale dolphin travels in groups of up to 2000, often with other cetaceans, in deep waters of the North Pacific. The dolphin is one of two species of Right whale dolphin, the other being found in cooler oceans of the southern hemisphere.
The species has a streamlined body with a sloping forehead, are more slender than other delphinids, and lack any fin or ridge on their smoothly curving backs.[3][4] The beak is short and well defined, a straight mouthline, and an irregular white patch on chin. The flippers are small, curved, narrow and pointed, the body is mostly black while the underside is partly white or lighter in colour. The tail flukes are triangular and, like the flippers, pointed. Adults weigh between 60–100 kg.[3] They have 74 to 108 thin and sharp teeth, not externally visible.[4] As young calves, these dolphins are greyish brown or sometimes cream. They stay like this for a year, before their body turns mainly black, with a clear white belly, and a white streak to their lower jaw.
Adults range in size from 2 metres in length, females are recorded as 2.3–2.6 m, males at 3.1 m, the sexes are otherwise similar in colour and appearance.[4][5] Newborns are around 90 centimetres. Northern Right Whale Dolphins have less white on their bodies than the Southern species.
Northern right whale dolphin are found as individuals, or in groups as large as 2000.[3] The group's average number is 110 in the eastern North Pacific and 200 individuals in the western North Pacific. They often associate with Pacific white-sided dolphins.[4]
They can reach speeds of up to 30–40 kilometres per hour across the open ocean, never along shallow coasts. They can dive up to 200 metres in search of fish, especially lanternfish, and squid.[4] They are found in temperate to cold waters, 24 to 8 degrees Celsius, from latitudes 51°N to 31°N between the west coast of North America and Asia.
Yankee whalers occasionally took this species for food in the mid-19th century.[6] Records from the late twentieth century show large numbers of Lissodelphis borealis were caught in drift nets, used for large scale squid fishing, which is estimated to have reduced the population by one to three quarters.[4] The current population trend is unknown, IUCN Redlist gives the conservation status as Least Concern.[1]
The species was first described by Titian Peale in 1848. The genus Lissodelphis is placed within Delphinidae, the oceanic dolphin family of cetaceans.[2] The epithet of the genus was derived from Greek lisso, smooth, and delphis;[7] the specific epithet, borealis, indicates the northern distribution. The common names for the species formerly included Northern right whale porpoise, Snake porpoise, and Pacific right whale porpoise.[5][8] Both species in the genus are also referred by the name Right whale dolphin, a name derived from the Right whales Eubalaena, which also lack a dorsal fin.[7][9]
Behaviour
This species usually travel in groups of 5–200 animals. When travelling fast the group will look like they're bouncing along on the water, as they make low leaps together, sometimes travelling as far as 7 metres in one leap. They are timid animals, and usually avoid boats. These graceful swimmers may bow-ride sometimes, and are spotted occasionally doing acrobatics, such as breaching, belly-flopping, side slapping, and lobtailing.
References
- ^ a b Hammond, P.S., Bearzi, G., Bjørge, A., Forney, K., Karczmarski, L., Kasuya, T., Perrin, W.F., Scott, M.D., Wang, J.Y., Wells, R.S. & Wilson, B. (2008). Lissodelphis borealis. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 March 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
- ^ a b "Lissodelphis borealis (Peale, 1848)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=180454.
- ^ a b c Jefferson, Thomas A.; Newcomer, M. (23 April 1993). "Lissodelphis borealis". Mammalian Species (The American Society of Mammalogists) (425): 1–6. http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-425-01-0001.pdf.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lissodelphis borealis Right Whale Dolphin". MarineBio. http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=352. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ a b "Lissodelphis borealis (Peale, 1848)". discoverlife.org. Smithsonian Institution. http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Lissodelphis+borealis. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ Erie, of Fairhaven, 1852 (Nicholson Whaling Collection).
- ^ a b Fertl, Dagmar. "Southern Right Whale Dolphin". Whales & Whale Spotting. http://library.thinkquest.org/C0124382/new_page_17.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ^ "Lissodelphis borealis (Peale, 1848)". Encyclopedia of life. eol.org. http://www.eol.org/pages/328527. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Lissodelphis peronii". Species Profile and Threats Database. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra.. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=44. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
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Unreviewed
Names and Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Comments: This may be a monotypic genus (Mead and Brownell, in Wilson and Reeder 1993, 2005); i.e., L. borealis may be conspecific with L. peronii of the Southern Hemisphere.
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