Notes on the presence of dwarf spinner dolphins Stenella longirostris roseiventris (Wagner, 1846) in Puerto Bay, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Authors: Ma. Theresa R. Aquino¹*, Rommel M. Cruz², Glenda M. Cadigal³,
Mark A. dela Cruz³ and Che Jalovar-Che^3
1Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, 350 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
²Wild Expeditions Palawan
³Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff

*Correspondence: dugongdoc@gmail.com | Download Full Journal

Journal Issue: The Palawan Scientist, Volume 13(2), December 2021, pp. 118-126

ABSTRACT

This research note aimed to document the presence of dwarf spinner dolphins Stenella longirostris roseiventris (Wagner, 1846) in Puerto Princesa Bay to update the cetacean species inventory of the bay and the little-known distribution of the subspecies in the country. During a dolphin watching expedition, the subspecies was spotted for the first time in Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan just east of Turtle Bay on 29 May 2021. The presence of Gray’s spinner dolphins S. longirostris longirostris (Gray, 1828) in the same vicinity highlighted the difference in size and shape of individuals of the two groups. The subspecies was confirmed using biometrics on a picture taken of a mother and its calf. The dorsal fin height and the pectoral fin ratios to the snout-to-dorsal fin length fit that of the dwarf spinner.

Keywords: biometrics, cetacean species inventory, subspecies distribution