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Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

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DAO 154:49-57 (2022)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03729

Survival of an Indian Ocean humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea in the wild despite chronic osteologic pathologies

Theagarten Lingham-Soliar1,†, Jennifer Bloodgood2,5, Bruce Rothschild3, Thibaut Bouveroux4,6,*

1Nelson Mandela University, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Port Elizabeth 77000, South Africa
2University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama 36528, USA
3Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
4Nelson Mandela University, Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Port Elizabeth 77000, South Africa
5Present address: Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, New York 14850, USA
6Present address: University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama 36528, USA
*Corresponding author:
Deceased

ABSTRACT: Skeletal examination of a female adult Indian Ocean humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea from South Africa suggested a chronic disease process. It manifested as erosions and pitting of the atlanto-occipital articulation as well as circumferential hyperostosis and ankylosis of some of the caudal vertebrae, findings rarely recorded together in the same animal. The character of the erosive process and vertebral fusion appeared chronic, and further findings of underdevelopment of the fluke, sternum and left humerus with remodeling of the periarticular region of the left scapula may support initiation of the process early in life. Because such chronic pathology would have affected the individual’s locomotion and foraging abilities, we also postulate how this individual survived until its demise in a human-derived environmental hazard. Ecological and socio-behavioral aspects observed in S. plumbea, including habitat preference for inshore and shallow waters, small social group aggregations and feeding cooperation, may have contributed to its ability to survive.


KEY WORDS: Atlanto-occipital articulation erosion · Sousa plumbea · Vertebral deformation · Chronic disease · Delphinidae · Osseous anomalies


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Cite this article as: Lingham-Soliar T, Bloodgood J, Rothschild B, Bouveroux T (2022) Survival of an Indian Ocean humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea in the wild despite chronic osteologic pathologies. Dis Aquat Org 154:49-57. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03729

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