Marine mammals around the Comoros archipelago (Mozambique Channel): recent records and review of available information

摘要: The Comoros archipelago is situated in the northern Mozambique Channel. islands of Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore (Union Comoros) constitute volcanic islands, are a proposed migration destination for humpback whales. Cetaceans have never been studied area preliminary small boat-based surveys were conducted during austral summer 2002 2003. These primary dedicated to assessment occurrence whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), but other cetacean species also recorded. collation opportunistic sighting records was used provide information on diversity marine mammals inhabiting this area. A total fourteen mammal recorded around Union Comoros, including dugong (Dugong dugon), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), pantropical spotted attenuata), Fraser’s (Lagenodelphis hosei), bottlenose (Tursiops sp.), Risso’s (Grampus griseus), melon-headed (Peponocephala electra), short-finned pilot (Globicephala macrorhynchus), pygmy killer (Feresa attenuata) Blainville’s beaked (Mesoplodon densirostris) Longman’s pacificus). During surveys, most encountered (71.5%) followed by (15.3%). Humpback group composition heterogeneous, mother-calf pairs commonly sighted. This study underlines waters an important site wintering western Indian Ocean wide variety species.