A link between male sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus , of the Azores and Norway

摘要: Little is known about the movements of male sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, in North Atlantic. Recoveries traditional harpoons and tags during commercial whaling indicated from Nova Scotia to Spain Azores Iceland Spain. We compared collections photo-identification images different areas using Atlantic Mediterranean Sperm Whale Catalogue Eurphlukes Phlex/Match programs. The largest identified males (number individuals, start end date for data collection shown parentheses) are (297, 1987–2008), Andenes (375, 1988–1996 2008), Tromso (84, 2005–2008). There were six matches between (~25 nm), with three these re-sighted multiple years Norway (~2400 nm). In all cases individuals first photographed (in 1993, 1999 2003) matched collected later 2007 2008). 1997 a image stranded on west coast Ireland. No made smaller Iceland, Scotia, Greenland, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Gulf Mexico Mediterranean. These findings show value whale watching vessels importance collaboration groups allow investigation an ocean basin scale. It hoped that coordinated more around Atlantic, further insight might be gained into widely ranging animals.