Unusual record of Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) feeding on anchovy (Engraulis mordax) in the fishery of small pelagic fishes in the Gulf of California

Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) range in North America from Japan to Mexico. Here we report the first record of a Pacific harbor seal feeding on Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) inside a purse-seine net of a sardine fishing boat in the Gulf of California. This event was recorded o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Barba-Acuña, Isai, Gallo-Reynoso, Juan Pablo
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad de Valparaíso 2019
Subjects:
Phoca vitulina richardii
foraging
Engraulis mordax
Gulf of California
Pacific
harbor seal
Phoca vitulina
Online Access:https://revistas.uv.cl/index.php/rbmo/article/view/1360
Description
Summary:Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) range in North America from Japan to Mexico. Here we report the first record of a Pacific harbor seal feeding on Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) inside a purse-seine net of a sardine fishing boat in the Gulf of California. This event was recorded on video on January 11th, 2010, near Estero Tortuga, Guasimas, Sonora (27°50’N, 110°39’W). Sea conditions were of El Niño Southern Oscillation; this record was likely due to El Niño, forcing seals to travel beyond their distribution range in search of alternate foraging areas.

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