Volume 24, Issue 74, July - December, 2023

Time and space distributions of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in the Syrian coast (eastern mediterranean)

Amir Ibrahim^1♦, Chirine Hussein¹, Firas Alshawy¹, Alaa Alcheikh Ahmad²

¹Department of Marine Biology, High Institute of Marine Research, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria
²General Commission of Fisheries Resources, Coastal Area Branch, Tartous, Syria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Marine Biology, High Institute of Marine Research, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria

ABSTRACT

The distribution of cetaceans' species through the time and space along the Syrian coast has been studied from 2003-2021. Visual monitoring had been done to record the species encountered, whether alive, freshly dead, or stranded dead. Thirty sightings had been recorded as follow: Five alive (three short-beaked common dolphins and two bottlenose dolphins), four freshly dead (three bottlenose dolphins and one Minke whale calf), and 21 stranded dead (11 bottlenose dolphins, four Cuvier's beaked whales, two Risso's dolphins and 1 for each of striped dolphin, fin whale, sperm whale, and humpback whale). Total species sightings were distributed as follows: Bottlenose dolphin (16 cases), Cuvier's beaked whale (four cases), short-beaked common dolphin (three cases), Risso's dolphin (two cases), and one case for each of fin whale, humpback whale, Minke whale, sperm whale and striped dolphin. These species accounts for 5 dolphin species (Suborder Odontoceti) and four whale species (Suborder Mysticeti). Some concluding remarks, death causes, and protection measures of cetacean along the Syrian coast had been also pointed at.

Keywords: Syrian coast, Cetaceans, Dolphins, Whales, Threats, Mediterranean Monk Seal.

Species, 2023, 24(74), e88s1609

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v24i74.e88s1609

Published: 02 December 2023