6533b7d4fe1ef96bd1261d38

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Cephalopod prey of two Ziphius cavirostris (Cetacea) stranded on the western Mediterranean coast

Carmen BlancoJ. A. Raga

subject

FisheryMediterranean climateMediterranean seabiologyDeep divingCetaceaAquatic Sciencebiology.organism_classificationMolluscaZiphius cavirostrisCephalopodPredation

description

The stomach contents of two Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), male and female, stranded on the western Mediterranean coast were analysed. Food consisted exclusively of hard cephalopod remains. The character of this teuthophagous diet agrees with the offshore and deep diving behaviour of Z. cavirostris.

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315499002064