New record of a stranded sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and a review of strandings along the continental argentine coast

DEGRATI, M., N.A. GARCÍA, M.F. GRANDI, M.S.LEONARDI, R. LOIZAGA DE CASTRO, D.G. VALES, S.L. DANS, S.N. PEDRAZA & E.A. CRESPO

MASTOZOOLOGíA NEOTROPICAL

UNIDAD DE ZOOLOGÍA Y ECOLOGÍA ANIMAL, INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LAS ZONAS ARIDAS, CRICYT, CONICET

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2011

0327-9383

We present a new record of sperm whale with notes on diet, age determination and a review of strandings along the continental Argentine coast. A complete necropsy was made in the field, and morphometric data were taken. The specimen stranded was a mature male of 64+ years old. This is the oldest specimen determined for a sperm whale in the Southwest Atlantic coast. In the stomach contents a total of 302 cephalopod lower beaks were recovered. Cestodes were present in the blubber but parasites were not found in stomach and intestine contents.