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High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Publication ,  Journal Article
Maresh, JL; Fish, FE; Nowacek, DP; Nowacek, SM; Wells, RS
Published in: Marine Mammal Science
January 1, 2004

Large predators should have difficulty catching small prey because small animals demonstrate greater maneuverability and agility compared to large animals. The ability of a predator to capture small prey indicates locomotor strategies to compensate for inequities in maneuverability. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida feed on fish at least one order of magnitude smaller than themselves. To examine the locomotor strategies involved in prey capture, the foraging movements of these dolphins were videotaped from overhead using a remotely-controlled camera suspended from a helium-filled aerostat, which was tethered to an observation vessel. Dolphins were observed to rapidly maneuver during chases of fish in open water or around patches of rooted vegetation. Video analysis of the chase sequences indicated that the dolphins could move the rostrum through small radius turns with a mean value of 0.20 body lengths and with a minimum value of 0.08 body lengths. Mean rate of turn was 561.6°/sec with a maximum rate measured at 1,372.0°/sec. High turning rates with small turning radii were primarily the result of maneuvers in which the dolphin rolled 90° and rapidly flexed its body ventrally. The ability of dolphins to change body orientation in multiple rotational axes provides a mechanism to reduce turning radius and increase turning rate to catch small, elusive prey.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Marine Mammal Science

DOI

ISSN

0824-0469

Publication Date

January 1, 2004

Volume

20

Issue

3

Start / End Page

498 / 509

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Maresh, J. L., Fish, F. E., Nowacek, D. P., Nowacek, S. M., & Wells, R. S. (2004). High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Marine Mammal Science, 20(3), 498–509. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01175.x
Maresh, J. L., F. E. Fish, D. P. Nowacek, S. M. Nowacek, and R. S. Wells. “High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).” Marine Mammal Science 20, no. 3 (January 1, 2004): 498–509. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01175.x.
Maresh JL, Fish FE, Nowacek DP, Nowacek SM, Wells RS. High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Marine Mammal Science. 2004 Jan 1;20(3):498–509.
Maresh, J. L., et al. “High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).” Marine Mammal Science, vol. 20, no. 3, Jan. 2004, pp. 498–509. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01175.x.
Maresh JL, Fish FE, Nowacek DP, Nowacek SM, Wells RS. High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Marine Mammal Science. 2004 Jan 1;20(3):498–509.
Journal cover image

Published In

Marine Mammal Science

DOI

ISSN

0824-0469

Publication Date

January 1, 2004

Volume

20

Issue

3

Start / End Page

498 / 509

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology