Aquatic mammals from the Mexican Caribbean; a review

We present a review of the aquatic mammal species occurring in the Mexican Caribbean. Several published sources were reviewed to find information about aquatic mammals reported for the Mexican Caribbean. Additionally, we consulted 29 national and international collections and museums. Based on docum...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Niño-Torres, Carlos Alberto, García-Rivas, María del Carmen, Castelblanco-Martínez, Delma Nataly, Padilla-Saldívar, Janneth Adriana, Blanco-Parra, María del Pilar, de la Parra-Venegas, Rafael
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hidrobiologica.izt.uam.mx/index.php/revHidro/article/view/468
Description
Summary:We present a review of the aquatic mammal species occurring in the Mexican Caribbean. Several published sources were reviewed to find information about aquatic mammals reported for the Mexican Caribbean. Additionally, we consulted 29 national and international collections and museums. Based on documents, collections, direct records and local news, we analyzed 18 confirmed species of aquatic mammals for the study area [Tursiops truncatus, Stenella clymene, S. frontalis, S. longirostris, Steno bredanensis, Grampus griseus, Globicephala macrorhynchus, Peponocephala electra; Pseudorca crassidens, Orcinus orca, Physeter macrocephalus, Kogia breviceps, K. sima, Ziphius cavirostris, Mesoplodon europaeus, Trichechus manatus manatus, Lontra longicaudis annectens and Monachus tropicalis (extinct)]. In order to gather solid baseline information that enhances efficient long-term management, regular and systematic population censuses of the aquatic mammal community are recommended. We recommend the use of the “Mexican Caribbean” area as a separate unit of management and conservation, differently as has been included in the macro region “Gulf of Mexico/Mexican Caribbean”.