Aggression towards neonates and possible infanticide in the boto, or Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)

Silva, Vera Maria Ferreira da; Silva, P.M.; Schlichta, Flávia; Carmo, Nívia A S do; Olson, Grace L.; Hintermayer, B.G.; Araújo, Maria Carmozina de; Martin, Anthony R.

doi:10.1163/1568539x-bja10103

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Male botos are known to perform agonist behavior against conspecifics and other aquatic animals. Reports of direct aggression toward boto calves (Bowler et al, 2018;da Silva et al, 2021) have been reported. However, most of these known attacks did not result in the death of the calf, suggesting that mortality would be an inadvertent consequence of the aggressive behavior rather than the motive.…”

Section: Behavior Socio-sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, most of these known attacks did not result in the death of the calf, suggesting that mortality would be an inadvertent consequence of the aggressive behavior rather than the motive. Males engaging in this behavior likely do not gain direct fitness benefits in terms of an accelerated return of females to reproductive condition (da Silva et al, 2021).…”

Section: Behavior Socio-sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Amazon River dolphin, Inia geoffrensis: What have we learned in the last two decades of research?

Silva

Brum²,

Mello

et al. 2023

Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Mamm.

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In the last decades, knowledge about the biology of the Amazon river dolphin Inia geoffrensis has increased considerably. Accordingly, we present a review of the published literature on this river dolphin, with a focus on topics with the most advancements and those that are important to the species conservation. We also present new information, including emerging knowledge on the other species of Inia. We summarize the current knowledge of the biology of Inia, covering aspects of taxonomy, distribution, life history and reproduction, genetics, anatomy and physiology, health, behavior, ecology, demographic parameters, and population trends. We also highlight the main anthropogenic threats affecting the species and the resulting conservation efforts.

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Section: Behavior Socio-sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behavior Socio-sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

The Amazon River dolphin, Inia geoffrensis: What have we learned in the last two decades of research?

Silva

Brum²,

Mello

et al. 2023

Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Mamm.

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“…Several techniques for capturing and handling white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) and other small odontocetes have been described. Seine nets have been used to capture species such as bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus 2Asper, 1975), killer whales (Orcinus orca) and botos, or Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis 2da Silva and Martin, 2000). Breakaway hoop nets have been successfully used in capturing bottlenose dolphins and porpoises (Ridgway, 1966;Asper, 1975;Hanson, 1998).…”

Section: Capturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…comm.). In contrast to most odontocetes, botos are much more comfortable laying on their side than on their bellies and consequently struggle less (da Silva and Martin, 2000). Tucuxis (Sotalia fluviatilis), however, are more nervous than botos when being handled (Martin, pers.…”

Section: Capturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current techniques for long-term (e.g. longer than a week) tag attachments to smaller odontocetes require that animals are captured and held for a brief period of time while the tag is attached (Irvine et al, 1982;Würsig, 1982;Tanaka, 1987;Tanaka et al, 1987;Scott et al, 1990;Martin et al, 1993;2001;Hanson et al, 1998;Hanson and DeLong, 1999;Martin and Smith, 1999;da Silva and Martin, 2000;Ferrero et al, 2000;Richard et al, 2001). Capture of animals for tag deployment also provides an opportunity for clinical health and body condition assessment of the animal (Wells et al, In press), determination of gender, collection of teeth for age determination (Hohn et al, 1989), evaluation of contaminant burdens (Schwacke et al, 2002) and assessment of reproductive condition (Wells, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of animal and human health concerns during capture-release, handling and tagging of odontocetes

Foster

2023

JCRM

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The capture-release of odontocetes allows for tag deployment which provides an opportunity to study behaviour and habitat use by free-ranging animals, as well as clinical assessment of the animal and tissue collection. This review recognises those elements that are common to most capture and tagging projects, identifies collective knowledge of animal and human health concerns during handling of odontocetes and provides guidelines for safer handling techniques. Handling during tagging projects can involve chase, capture, restraint, manipulation, tag application, often removal from the water and release at the capture site. The risk of injury during capture will be reduced by using experienced personnel, adequate technical support and proper equipment. For the duration of the handling process, the animal’s stimulus response should be monitored as well as its cardiovascular and respiratory function. Stress response of the odontocete is monitored by behavioural assessments, physiological monitoring and/or blood sampling. Possible complications from tag placement may include infection at the implant site leading to tag failure, behavioural alterations in response to tag placement and tag rejection. During handling of an odontocete, there is the potential for disease transmission between humans and the animal. Exposure to diseases is minimised by wearing protective clothing and gear and exercising caution when working around the animal’s blowhole.

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Infanticide and Sexual Conflict in Cetaceans

McEntee,

MacQueeney,

Alvarado

et al. 2023

Sex in Cetaceans

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Infanticide by adult males is a striking example of sexual conflict; males can increase their reproductive success by killing an unrelated infant and accelerating the mother’s return to breeding condition. Reports of infanticide in cetaceans have quadrupled in the past decade, and infanticide has now been documented in six species of toothed whale, including multiple populations of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Evidence of infanticide in these species is consistent with the sexual selection hypothesis; perpetrators are predominantly adult males and targets are neonates. Toothed whales have long lactation periods that suppress estrus, making infanticide potentially adaptive for adult males. However, it remains unclear if infanticidal males are likely to sire the mother’s subsequent offspring. Here, we provide an overview of infanticide in cetaceans, evaluate the evidence for the sexual selection hypothesis, and propose a framework to predict infanticide risk in this clade. Toothed whales do not typically have dominance hierarchies, stable social groups, or monopolizable mating opportunities, all hallmarks of infanticide risk in terrestrial species. Instead, we hypothesize that infanticide risk in toothed whales is modulated by encounter rates with unfamiliar males.

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Aggression towards neonates and possible infanticide in the boto, or Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)

Cited by 8 publications

References 14 publications

The Amazon River dolphin, Inia geoffrensis: What have we learned in the last two decades of research?

The Amazon River dolphin, Inia geoffrensis: What have we learned in the last two decades of research?

A review of animal and human health concerns during capture-release, handling and tagging of odontocetes

Infanticide and Sexual Conflict in Cetaceans

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