학술논문
A Novel Case of Non-Offspring Adoption in a Free-Ranging Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Inhabiting the Indian River Lagoon, Florida.
Document Type
Article
Author
Source
Subject
*ALLOPARENTAL behavior in animals
*BOTTLENOSE dolphin
*CETACEA
*CROSS-fostering in animals
*FOSTER care of animals
*ANIMAL classification
PHOTOIDENTIFICATION of animals
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Language
ISSN
0167-5427
Abstract
Wild and captive epimeletic care has been reported worldwide in many different species of cetaceans. Epimeletic care can be described as nurturant or succorant in nature. While adoption can be considered an example of nurturant behavior, to date there have been no reported cases of permanent adoption among wild cetaceans. During routine photo-identification surveys, an adult female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found in the presence of a young calf that was not her own. This mother-calf-like relationship lasted nearly 2 y until the death of the allomother. This paper documents a novel case of free-ranging bottlenose dolphin adoption that occurred in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]