@article{fdi:010066345,
  title = {{B}iological data of pygmy killer whale ({F}eresa attenuata) from a mass stranding in {N}ew {C}aledonia ({S}outh {P}acific) associated with hurricane {J}im in 2006},
  author = {{C}lua, {E}.{E}. and {M}anire, {C}.{A}. and {G}arrigue, {C}laire},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}espite its distribution throughout the tropics and subtropics, the pygmy killer whale ({F}eresa attenuata) is one of the most poorly known species of odontocetes ({C}etacea: {D}elphinidae). {W}e used the opportunity of a mass stranding of six animals in {N}ew {C}aledonia (early {F}ebruary 2006) to gather information about their biology. {F}our animals, including three males and one female, were found dead, and morphometrics, including dental counts, were collected. {T}wo live mature males of 236 and 246 cm total length ({TL}), respectively, were closely monitored and sampled via blood analysis. {A}s it was not likely to survive, the second animal was euthanized and necropsied. {F}ollowing the euthanasia of the larger animal, the smaller one, which was probably staying out of social solidarity, returned on its own to the open sea. {T}he necropsy revealed the presence of cardiopulmonary collapse and enlarged and congested testes. {B}lood parameters confirmed a deteriorating health status for both animals, enhanced by starvation. {S}ome of the relative morphometric measurements of all six stranded pygmy killer whales seemed to be larger for these animals living in the southwest {P}acific as compared to the literature for this species. {W}e hypothesize that this group of pygmy killer whales was probably pushed through the {C}oral {S}ea toward the {N}ew {C}aledonian lagoon by {H}urricane {J}im, which occurred in the area from 26 {J}anuary until 2 {F}ebruary. {T}hese observations reveal {J}anuary as a potential part of the mating season in this area for this rare, elusive, and unknown species. {I}t also supports the notion that early sacrifice of distressed, terminal animals could be a way to improve the survival rate of other less traumatized individuals during cetacean mass strandings.},
  keywords = {{NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE} ; {PACIFIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}quatic {M}ammals},
  volume = {40},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {162--172},
  ISSN = {0167-5427},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1578/{AM}.40.2.2014.162},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066345},
}