Records of cetaceans in coastal waters off Ceará State, Brazil

Authors

  • Tarcísio Teixeira Alves Júnior Bolsista de Iniciação Científica, Grupo de Estudo de Cetáceos do Ceará (GECC), Laboratório de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC).
  • Francisco José C. Ávila Bolsista de Iniciação Científica, Grupo de Estudo de Cetáceos do Ceará (GECC), Laboratório de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC).
  • Juaci Araújo de Oliveira Bolsista de Iniciação Científica, Grupo de Estudo de Cetáceos do Ceará (GECC), Laboratório de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC).
  • Manuel Antonio A. Furtado Neto Pesquisador do Grupo de Estudo de Cetáceos do Ceará (LABOMAR-UFC), bolsista de Doutorado da Canadian lntemational Development Agency- CIDA na Memorial University of Newfoundland.
  • Cassiano Monteiro Neto Professor Adjunto do Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca-UFC, bolsista pesquisador do CNPQ, Pesquisador do LABOMAR e Coordenador do GECC. Av. da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60-165-082.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32360/acmar.v30i1-2.31398

Keywords:

cetaceans, species list, occurrence, distribution, bioecology

Abstract

This study presents an up-to-date list of cetacean occurrence in the State of Ceará, Brazil, including data on the geographical distribution of species, a stranding description of the species of lowest ocurrence, as well as the interaction of small cetaceans with greatest occurrence, in relation to ftshing activities off the coast of Ceará State. Data were obtained from sightings at sea, identification of beached dead animais and osteological material, interviews with fishermen from several coastal
communities, and research on local museums and newspaper photo files. Between January, 1992 and July,1996 the occurrence of 83 animais belonging to 10 species was recorded: Sotalia fluviatilis (45); Physeter macrocephalus (13); Steno bredanensis (12); Tursiops truncatus (4); Globicephala macrorhynchus (2); Peponocephala electra (2); Stenella
frontalis (2); Stenella clymene (1); Kogia simus (1); e Ziphius cavirostris (1). The species found badly decomposed were identified through the appropriate cranial measurements. The high mortality of small cetaceans on fishing nets indicates the vulnerability of these animais to the ftshing gear utilized by artisanal fishermen in Ceará, suggesting the need for the
implementation of research and environmental education programs to minimize this problem.

Author Biography

Tarcísio Teixeira Alves Júnior, Bolsista de Iniciação Científica, Grupo de Estudo de Cetáceos do Ceará (GECC), Laboratório de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC).



Published

2018-03-06

Issue

Section

Artigos originais