A comparison of the cranial morphology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Mexico /
''offshore'' animals. Discriminant analysis determined
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| Format: | Thesis eBook |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1998.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Summary: | ''offshore'' animals. Discriminant analysis determined 198 1, were examined along with age, sex, standard 220 skulls were collected from stranded animals adult animals (n=170) as determined by fusion of the and Florida populations. Further investigation found and internal nares identified separation between Texas animals was used as an subgroup, due to their animals were taken from known inshore communities. The between Texas inshore and Texas "offshore'' dolphin populations could be determined by as few as ecological functionality and used to compare groups events within local bay communities (n=34). Thirty- five cranial measurements, from Perrin 1975 and Walker from coastal gillnets (n=3) as well as from die-of from Texas and Florida populations. A group of Pacific from the rest of the dolphins. Due to the shape and genetic similarity to offshore animals from the Gulf has been described on global and local scales. One hypothesis for this phenomenon is that the genus is in the Gulf of Mexico is that of a single species, inshore sample was comprised of specimens collected length, skull maturity, and geographic location of locally divided into coastal populations comprised of Mississippi (n=1), Louisiana (n=9), Florida (n=59) and musculature, and nares shape identified separation of animals (n=3) that were significantly different of Mexico. Cluster analysis identified a small group populations in the western Atlantic Ocean. populations, while traits defining width of-rostrum sample of teeth for aging were collected. Though most six stranding areas from Texas (n=151). Data on size of the characters exhibited by the skulls of skull and age. Characters were grouped based upon small, elongate animals, and onshore populations made specimens stranded from unknown populations, 37 standard length, sex, location of stranding, and a stranding. Statistical analysis was limited to only that separation between the inshore and offshore that traits defining skull length, feeding The current taxonomic status of the bottlenose dolphin ics. these animals, they were hypothesized to be three skull characters, consistent with findings from throughout the Gulf of Mexico, encompassing Tursiops truncates, although significant variability up of large, robust animals. To test this hypothesis, |
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| Item Description: | "Major subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences". Vita. |
| Physical Description: | xiii, 135 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm. Also available online. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 70-85. |