BCB 003 - Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Dec. 5, 2007 - Small bottlenose dolphin
stranded on Ocean Isle Beach, NC
On December 5, 2007 the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program received a call at approximately 1400 from the Ocean Isle Police Department. The animal was found at the west end of Ocean Isle Beach in the surf. The animal had heavy scavenger damage and was in poor condition. The necropsy was completed on the beach. Two light fetal folds were observed on left side of animal. Dorsal fin and tail flukes were floppy. Several small rostral hairs (2-3) were apparent on left side of animal. There were no erupted teeth, and upon closer observation, teeth had only formed along lower right jaw. At 86 cm in length the dolphin had yet reached a minimal size at birth.
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