STRIPED DOLPHIN

 

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Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) is the commonest species of the Mediterranean Sea.
In the study area were sighted large groups of about 200 individuals.

Most of the survey effort was concentrated north of the island, within 11 km from the coast. The animals were always sighted over the submarine canyon of Cuma, a highly productive marine area characterised by high pelagic biodiversity and multi-species associations.

 

 

 

The average depth of the sighting point was 231.6 m and the average distance from the nearest coast was 4.6Km.
The mean group size of striped dolphin was 56.7, with a highest number of 200 individuals observed at once;

In 9% of sightings striped dolphins were in association with common dolphin groups, in 13% with fin whales.

 

 

All species of Odontocetes seems to use the area of Cuma either as breeding or as feeding ground.
The abundance of food resources probably favour the weaning of calves without wasting energies, in fact, in Cuma we had a high number of newborns in dolphins' groups.

Breeding activities were often observed, and a high percentage of calves were always present in one or more of the group sub-units.

 

 

 

The peaks of cetacean births corresponds with the period of maximum tourists crowding along the coast of Ischia, newborns have, today, face a new threat constituted by the crews of the speed pleasure crafts.
An 80cm long striped dolphin with the skull wide opened by a propeller strike was found stranded on S.Francesco beach (Ischia) in summer 2000.