A note on stomach contents of minke whales ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ) in Icelandic waters

• Published in: NAMMCO Scientific Publications
• Main Authors: Jóhann Sigurjónsson, Anton Galan, Gísli A Víkingsson
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2000
• Subjects: minke whales; Balaenoptera acutorostrata; diet; stomach contents; prey; Ecology; QH540-549.5; Gadus morhua; Iceland; Meganyctiphanes norvegica; Thysanoessa raschii
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/3.2973; https://doaj.org/article/d2ceb9dada7d472aabc049b1ac16cec4

There is limited available information on food habits of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in coastal Iceland. Sixty-eight minke whales were examined for stomach contents; 51.5% contained fish only, 22.1 % krill (Euphausiacea) only, 25.0% fish and krill together, and one animal (l.5%) had no food remains in the stomach. The fish species identified were capelin (Mallotus villosus), sandeel (Ammodytidae), cod (Gadus morhua) and herring (Clupea harengus). Two species of krill were identified; Thysanoessa raschii and Meganyctiphanes norvegica. Sandeel was the dominant prey species in the western and southwestern areas, while capelin and krill were more frequently found in animals sampled in North Iceland.