[MARMAM] New publication: Relaxed selection in evolution of genes regulating limb development gives clue to variation in forelimb morphology of cetaceans and other mammals
Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce our new paper which can be found at https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.1106 Telizhenko V, Kosiol C, McGowen MR, Gol'din P. 2024 Relaxed selection in evolution of genes regulating limb development gives clue to variation in forelimb morphology of cetaceans and other mammals. Proc. R. Soc. B 291: 20241106. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.1106 <https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.1106?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3MBTpJmPW1IYq5OFfQdqSuqjiqhvklVmGXzuxiZARco0LnkimwWS4eRCs_aem_AGMgQP7sVnkrubYr1LcP9w> Cetaceans have evolved unique limb structures, such as flippers, due to genetic changes during their transition to aquatic life. However, the full understanding of the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms behind these changes is still developing. By examining 25 limb-related protein-coding genes across various mammalian species, we compared genetic changes between aquatic mammals, like whales, and other mammals with unique limb structures such as bats, rodents and elephants. Our findings revealed significant modifications in limb-related genes, including variations in the Hox, GDF5 and Evx genes. Notably, a relaxed selection in several key genes was observed, suggesting a lifting of developmental constraints, which might have facilitated the emergence of morphological innovations in cetacean limb morphology. We also uncovered non-synonymous changes, insertions and deletions in these genes, particularly in the polyalanine tract of HOXD13, which are distinctive to cetaceans or convergent with other aquatic mammals. These genetic variations correlated with the diverse and specialized limb structures observed in cetaceans, indicating a complex interplay of relaxed selection and specific mutations in mammalian limb evolution. Feel free to contact authors, including Valeriia Telizhenko valeriia.dcccl...@gmail.com On behalf of the team and all the best, Pavel Gol'din, Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Kyiv, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New paper: Earliest Records of Holocene Cetaceans in the Black Sea
Dear colleagues, On behalf of the coauthors I am pleased to share our recent publication (open access): Earliest Records of Holocene Cetaceans in the Black Sea https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3609 by Magie Aiken, Elena Gladilina, Canan Çakirlar, Serhii Telizhenko, Luminita Bejenaru, Maia Bukhsianidze, Morten Tange Olsen, Pavel Gol'din The timing of the Holocene transition of the Black Sea from a brackish lake to a marine sea has long been debated. Here, we report on the earliest records of cetaceans in the Black Sea region as a proxy for the connection with the Mediterranean and the transition from a brackish to marine environment. We base our analysis on cetacean skeletal finds and archival data on cetacean skeletal remains from the Bosphorus, the western, northern and eastern Black Sea, and the Kerch Strait. We find that all three contemporary cetacean species in the Black Sea – the harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin and common dolphin – had migrated out of the Mediterranean to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea at least 8000–7000 years ago and reached the northern Black Sea by 5500 years ago at the latest. Our study suggests the establishment of a Mediterranean–Black Sea biogeographical connection for marine vertebrates at least 7000 years ago. The early presence of cetaceans in the Black Sea has implications for understanding its Holocene transition, as well as the evolutionary and ecological history of these species more generally. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jqs.3609 (open access) All the best, Pavel ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Prehistoric and historic exploitation of marine mammals in the Black Sea
Dear colleagues, I am happy to announce our new paper which can be of your interest. Aiken, M., Gladilina, E., Çakırlar, C., Telizhenko, S., van den Hurk, Y., Bejenaru, L., Olsen, M.T. and Gol'din, P., 2023. Prehistoric and historic exploitation of marine mammals in the Black Sea. *Quaternary Science Reviews*, *314*, p.108210. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379123002585 (open access) The recent exploitation of marine species is relatively well documented and understood in terms of impacts on species abundance, distribution, and resource use. In contrast, ancient exploitation of marine mammals remains poorly documented; in part, because a detailed meta-analysis of their presence in the zooarchaeological record is lacking. This is true in the Black Sea, where cetaceans are reported in the zooarchaeological record but have not yet been studied comprehensively. Here, we synthesize all available published and unpublished zooarchaeological data from 27 sites around the Black Sea, dating from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods (6500-6000 BCE) to the Medieval period (641–1475 CE), to document the extent and nature of the exploitation of the Black Sea cetacean species. The results suggest that cetacean exploitation was practised continuously in the Black Sea over a period of 8500 years from the Neolithic through to the Medieval period. This suggests a much longer history of marine mammal exploitation in the Black Sea than previously understood, pushing back the timeline of human impacts on the Black Sea marine fauna. All the best, Pavel Gol'din Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Assessment of the bycatch level for the Black Sea harbour porpoise
Dear colleagues, Here we inform you that our paper came out and share the link to the open access publication. This is the first basin wide estimate which has been published as a journal paper and it is quite high. All the comments and responses will be greatly appreciated. Best, Pavel Gol'din Popov D, Meshkova G, Vishnyakova K, Ivanchikova J, Paiu M, Timofte C, Amaha Öztürk A, Tonay AM, Dede A, Panayotova M, Düzgünes¸ E and Gol’din P (2023) Assessment of the bycatch level for the Black Sea harbour porpoise in the light of new data on population abundance. Front. Mar. Sci. 10:1119983. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1119983 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1119983/full Incidental catch in fishing gear (often known as bycatch) is a major mortality factor for the Black Sea harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta), an endemic subspecies listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. The primary gear, responsible for porpoise bycatch in the Black Sea are bottom gillnets and trammel nets targeting turbot (Scophthalmus spp.), the most valuable commercial fish species in the Black Sea. From 2019 to 2021, a study was conducted in Bulgaria, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, to estimate the bycatch level in light of new information on porpoise distribution and abundance obtained from aerial surveys (CeNoBS). Bycatch data were collected by independent observers onboard turbot fishing boats (Bulgaria and Romania), complemented by questionnaire surveys and examination of stranded carcasses (in all countries). The total annual bycatch of harbour porpoises in the Black Sea was roughly estimated as between 11 826 and 16 200 individuals. Given the new estimates of porpoise abundance based on the CeNoBS survey of 2019 and reconciling abundance and bycatch estimates, harbour porpoise bycatch in the Black Sea represents between 4.6% - 17.2% of the estimated total population, depending on assumptions used. Even the most conservative estimate is among the highest worldwide and far exceeds the probable sustainable levels of around 1.0-1.7%. This study confirms that bycatch poses the most serious threat to the Black Sea harbour porpoises and that all riparian countries engaged in turbot fisheries must implement urgent measures to reduce it immediately, if the population is to survive in the long-term. ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Fwd: [ZOOARCH] SeaChanges: funded PhDs
Dear colleagues, Please read the list of the projects. At least a few of them are fully or partially dedicated to marine mammals. Best, Pavel Gol'din -- Forwarded message - From: David Orton <1cd2bbbe0236-dmarc-requ...@jiscmail.ac.uk> Date: Wed, Feb 6, 2019, 12:54 Subject: [ZOOARCH] SeaChanges: funded PhDs To: Dear all, Please see the following opportunity and pass it on to anyone who might be interested. Thanks, David * 15 fully-funded PhDs in marine historical ecology (zooarchaeology / palaeogenetics / marine zoology), starting autumn 2019: call for expressions of interest We are pleased to announce the launch of the SeaChanges Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network, offering 15 fully-funded PhDs spread across the Universities of York, Groningen, Copenhagen, Bologna, Oslo, and Cambridge, and the Marine Research Institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). SeaChanges bridges archaeology and marine zoology in order to improve understanding of the time depth of human exploitation and impact on marine species, and to train a cohort of researchers with the necessary skills to operate across disciplinary and sectoral boundaries to this end. This is achieved via a network of complementary research projects that apply diverse methods to address both socio-economic and ecological themes, covering all of Europe's seas, key marine species, and timescales from decades to millennia. The PhD projects are supported by a programme of dedicated training workshops in bioarchaeology, marine ecology, data management, and communication with stakeholders and the public. Each PhD studentship is a 3-year position with a highly competitive salary and dedicated research/training budget, open to applicants of any nationality (subject to rules regarding trans-national mobility). Full eligibility criteria and a list of projects are available on the SeaChanges website <https://sites.google.com/york.ac.uk/seachanges>. The formal application process is due to open in March 2019, with successful applicants taking up their positions from October 2019. In the meantime, we invite expressions of interest from potential candidates. If you are interested, please review the project descriptions and eligibility criteria and complete the form here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJVnAWfJVSf7JBgZSevYkMu8dKYT0JkbDVuWVT01QofyLEag/viewform?usp=sf_link> ideally by March 8th 2019, or email seachan...@palaeome.org for more information. Best, David Orton & the SeaChanges team * -- Dr. David Orton Lecturer in Zooarchaeology Director of Studies, MSc in Zooarchaeology BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York -- To unsubscribe from the ZOOARCH list, click the following link: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=ZOOARCH&A=1 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Symposium on the Evolution of Marine Mammals in Tbilisi: a reminder
Dear colleagues, On behalf of the organizing committee, I am pleased to remind that the deadline for registration and abstract submission for the Symposium on the Evolution of Marine Mammals honoring Guram Mchedlidze which will be held in the Georgian National Museum on 29 September - 1 October 2016 in Tbilisi, Georgia, is due in a month, by June 30, 2016. The details are available at the following link: http://museum.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=99&info_id=13867 Looking forward for seeing you at the Symposium, Pavel Gol'din, Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Kiev, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] a paper on skull morphology: Habitat shapes skull profile of small cetaceans
Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the following upcoming paper in Zoomorphology: Gol'din, P., and Vishnyakova, K. 2016. Habitat shapes skull profile of small cetaceans: evidence from geographical variation in Black Sea harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena relicta). Zoomorphology. doi: 10.1007/s00435-016-0311-1 Morphological differentiation in skull shape in small toothed whales is sometimes explained as driven by differences in ontogeny or adaptation to a benthic or pelagic habitat. To test these hypotheses, the comparison was made, using two-dimensional geometric morphometry, between neighbouring populations of harbour porpoises from the north-eastern Black Sea and the adjoining Sea of Azov, from the same genetically isolated subspecies, both known for their extreme paedomorphosis in body and skull development but differing in seasonal habitats (very shallow waters vs open sea). There were major differences between populations in the following traits: in Azov animals, rostrum was slightly shorter and more deflected downwards; premaxillary eminences shifted backward and facial region proportionally longer; more concave facial fossa and higher vertex; lower, downward-facing foramen magnum. Meanwhile, each of the populations followed its own ontogenetic trajectory. Therefore, differences in skull shape between populations were primarily directed by habitat. Shape differences were less discriminating than size; they might involve both echolocation and feeding mechanisms and could be associated with suction feeding. These adaptations were characterized by mixed allometric patterns including both paedomorphosis and peramorphosis in their ontogeny. Shallow habitat was found to be critical in forming specific adaptations even for animals migrating between different habitat types. The paper can be accessed at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00435-016-0311-1 The authors can be reached by e-mail: pavelgoldin...@gmail.com Regards, Pavel Gol'din Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Symposium on the evolution of marine mammals in Tbilisi, Georgia: the first announcement
Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the following event on behalf of the organizing committee. Regards, Pavel Gol'din Dear colleagues, On 29 Sept. -1 Oct. 2016 the Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi is organizing a symposium on the evolution of marine mammals dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Dr. Guram Mchedlidze (1931–2009), a Georgian paleontologist. The first circular and pre-registration form can be found on the web-site of the GNM: museum.ge, home-page ->events->future events. URL: http://museum.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=98&info_id=13723 You can send the filled in pre-registration form directly to me on this e-mail (maiab...@gmail.com). Hope very much to see you all in Tbilisi in September. Please, distribute this information among interested scientists. Sincerely, Maia Bukhsianidze Senior researcher Georgian National Museum ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] A New Miocene Family, Tranatocetidae, Brings Perspective on Baleen Whale Evolution
Dear colleagues, We are happy to announce the following open access paper on the evolution of baleen whales: Gol’din P, Steeman ME (2015) From Problem Taxa to Problem Solver: A New Miocene Family, Tranatocetidae, Brings Perspective on Baleen Whale Evolution. PLoS ONE 10(9): e0135500. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135500 Miocene baleen whales were highly diverse and included tens of genera. However, their taxonomy and phylogeny, as well as relationships with living whales, are still a subject of controversy. Here, “Mesocetus” argillarius, a poorly known specimen from Denmark, is redescribed with a focus on the cranial anatomy. It was found to represent not only a new genus, Tranatocetus gen. nov., but also a new family; Tranatocetidae. The whales of this family have the rostral bones either overriding or dividing the frontals; the rostral bones are contacting the parietals and nasals dividing the maxillae on the vertex; the occipital shield is dorsoventrally bent. The tympanic bulla is particularly characteristic of this family featuring a short, narrow anterior portion with a rounded or squared anterior end and a wider and higher posterior portion that is swollen in the posteroventral area. A phylogenetic analysis including 51 taxa supports a monophyletic group comprising most Neogene and modern whales, with Tranatocetidae being possibly closer related to Balaenopteridae (rorquals) than to Cetotheriidae. Tranatocetidae exhibit a charahteristic bulla shape. In fact, all Neogene and modern mysticete families examined have a unique shape of the tympanic bulla that is diagnostic at family-level. Inclusion of problematic taxa like Tranatocetus argillarius in phylogenies brings new understanding of the distribution and diagnostic value of character traits. This underlines the need for re-examination of earlier described specimens in the light of the wealth of new information published in later years. The paper can be read and downloaded at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0135500 Regards, Pavel Gol'din ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication on the body size and variation of the Black Sea bottlenose dolphins
Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following new publication: Gol’din, P., Gladilina, E. 2015. Small dolphins in a small sea: Age, growth and aspects of life history of the Black Sea common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Biology 23(2): 159–166. We provide first data on the life span, growth and seasonal aspects of the life history of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the wild and compare these with historical data and conspecific populations in other geographical regions. Average life span is 20 to 32 yr; the oldest record is 41 yr. The reproductive season lasts at least from February to September or October and includes the coldest months of the year (February and March). Average adult body lengths are 240 ± 14 cm for females and 255 ± 10 cm for males. Rapid early body growth ceases by 3 to 4 yr. Two morphs, one large (offshore) and one small (coastal), possibly co-exist in the Black Sea. The larger morph may include winter-breeding migrants or immigrants from the Mediterranean Sea. The small coastal form is similar in body size and growth patterns to coastal populations in the eastern Mediterranean region and the Gulf of Mexico, but is characterized by early growth to maturity and small asymptotic body size. Small-sized dolphin populations in enclosed water bodies can be treated as an example of the ‘island rule’, and their dwarfism may hypothetically be explained as an effect of smaller prey size. It can be downloaded at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/ab/v23/n2/p159-166/ (open access) For the comments, you are welcome to contact me at: pavelgoldin...@gmail.com Regards, Pavel Gol'din ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] two new publications on strandings of harbour porpoises
Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce two upcoming publications on the strandings of harbour porpoises in the Sea of Azov: Vishnyakova, K., Gol’din, Cetacean stranding rate correlates with fish stock dynamics: Research of harbour porpoises in the Sea of Azov. Marine Biology doi: 10.1007/s00227-014-2600-x http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-014-2600-x The dynamics of the endangered population of the harbour porpoise (*Phocoena phocoena*) in the Azov Sea is currently unknown. It can be, however, estimated by stranding analysis. In 1999–2014, the porpoise stranding rates were regularly monitored at the southern coast of the Azov Sea, particularly at the uninhabited abraded coast of the Tarkhan Cape. Specifically, the general trends and annual fluctuations in strandings were compared to the catch reports of the Azov anchovy (*Engraulis encrasicolus*), an important prey for porpoises. It was observed that the fluctuations in stranding rates closely correlated with the population dynamics of the anchovy stock. A cosine function, based on the data from 1999–2012, correctly predicted maximum strandings in 2013 and their substantial decline in 2014. The function worked particularly well, when possible biases affecting carcass preservation, such as discovery rate and drift conditions, were reduced. In certain environments and over established time periods, the cetacean stranding rate can be an indicator of population trends. The use of stranding rates as such indicator may be verified by external factors, including the dynamics of prey stocks. Vishnyakova, K., Gol’din, P., Seasonality of strandings and bycatch of harbour porpoises in the Sea of Azov: the effects of fisheries, weather conditions and life history. ICES Journal of Marine Science doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsu192 http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/11/04/icesjms.fsu192.abstract In this study, we analyse seasonal aspects of harbour porpoise strandings in the Sea of Azov and discuss factors affecting the stranding rate. Data on 633 strandings were obtained from monitoring of a 35-km long area of the south coast of the Sea of Azov in 1999–2013. A distinct peak of strandings fell in July and August: it depended on the bycatch peak and calving season. Stranding rates depended neither on weather conditions nor on the seasonal fishing activities (including IUU fisheries). Moreover, stranding peaks in the neighbouring Black Sea were also tied to the calving season rather than to the fishing activities. We suggest that the seasonal mortality patterns are indirectly determined by nutritional stress: in Atlantic, winter-stranding oceanic populations and summer-stranding inner-sea populations occur that also possibly differ in the seasonal dynamics of body mass, weaning time or duration of mother–calf association, and dentine structure. In a typical summer-stranding population, summer is the season of nutritional stress, parturition, independent foraging of yearlings and lactation of nursing females, which leads to the risky foraging behaviour near gillnets. Another possible factor of increased bycatch is the seasonal habitat preference, corresponding to the gillnet preferences. Therefore, stranding and bycatch seasonality of porpoises can largely be explained by the aspects of their life history and foraging behaviour rather than by weather conditions and fisheries. This supports the time–area closure strategy as an adequate conservation measure, which would consider minimizing the conflict of interest with fisheries. We will be grateful for your comments. You are welcome to contact me: p...@museum-sonderjylland.dk , pavelgoldin...@gmail.com On behalf of the authors, Pavel Pavel Gol'din Department of Natural History and Palaeontology, The Museum of Southern Jutland, Lergravsvej 2, 6510, Gram, Denmark ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication on morphology, acoustics and evolution of cetaceans
Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the recent publication published online by the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society: Gol'din, P. (2014), ‘Antlers inside’: are the skull structures of beaked whales (Cetacea: Ziphiidae) used for echoic imaging and visual display?. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. doi: 10./bij.12337 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10./bij.12337/abstract Skulls of many living and extinct beaked whales (Ziphiidae) contain various bizarre bone and tooth structures. Many of them show sexual dimorphism in their skull anatomy: males have bizarre skull structures, whereas females do not. Opinions differ as to what the function of these structures might be. Some believe that these are weapons; others, that they are sound transmitters. This article argues that these structures are the means of visual display. Many of the bizarre bone structures of beaked whales are not exposed like ‘visuals’ of terrestrial tetrapods, but are located deep in soft tissues. Nevertheless, toothed whales recognize objects (including three-dimensional bodies), using echolocation. So, along with visual means, they can ‘see’ and ‘show’ their internal bone structures with echoic imaging and use them as informational sources in social interactions and in individual or species recognition. Please contact me for comments and questions at: pavelgoldin...@gmail.com Regards, Pavel Pavel Gol'din Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology Kiev, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] recent publications: cetacean paleontology, life history and diet
rity in an ultra-oligotrophic region was unpredicted and is not readily explained. It may accompany early reproductive maturation, selected for as partial compensation for lower lifelong reproductive success. Gol'din, P., Zvonok, E., Rekovets, L., Kovalchuk, A., Krakhmalnaya, T. 2014. Basilotritus (Cetacea: Pelagiceti) from the Eocene of Nagornoye (Ukraine): New data on anatomy, ontogeny and feeding of early basilosaurids. *Comptes Rendus Palevol* http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2013.11.002 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631068313001930 A new specimen of early basilosaurid, now identified as Basilotritus sp., comes from thelate Middle Eocene of Ukraine. It has basilosaurid-type cheek teeth with cinguli, similar tothose of Zygorhiza, and roots resembling those of Georgiacetus vogtlensis and early Neoceti;an unusual feature of these teeth is the presence of accessory denticles of the second orderlocated on the crown denticles. The postcranial anatomy shows a mixture of primitive andadvanced basilosaurid traits. The phylogenetic position of the genus Basilotritus is confirmedto be near the base of Basilosauridae, between Supayacetus and Zygorhiza. The ontogeny ofthe specimen from Nagornoye is characterized by large body size, slow skeletal matura-tion and intensive pachyosteosclerosis that are interpreted as neotenic development. Rapidtooth wear with strong apical abrasion is the result of specialized diet, possibly feeding on sharks For details, please contact me at: pavelgoldin...@gmail.com Kind regards, Pavel Pavel Gol'din Taurida National University Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] The anatomy of Cetotherium riabinini, a baleen whale from the late Miocene of Ukraine
Dear colleagues, We pleased to announce the following paper: Pavel Gol’din, Dmitry Startsev, and Tatiana Krakhmalnaya. The anatomy of Cetotherium riabinini Hofstein, 1948, a baleen whale from the late Miocene of Ukraine. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica in press, available online 13 Mar 2013 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4202/app.2012.0107 Abstract We re-describe Cetotherium riabinini, a little known baleen whale from the Late Miocene of the Eastern Paratethys. C. riabinini is represented by an exceptionally well-preserved skull and partial skeleton, and is shown to be closely related to C. rathkii, the only other member of the genus. Cetotheriids from the Eastern Paratethys are remarkable for their pachyosteosclerotic postcranial skeleton, and are among the youngest known cetaceans displaying such an anatomy. C. riabinini is hypothesised to have followed a generalised feeding strategy combining herpetocetine-like continuous suction feeding, as seen in the mallard Anas platyrhynchos, and eschrichtiid-like intermittent suction feeding. This hypothesis may explain the mechanism and function of cranial kinesis in baleen whales. Many characteristics of the mysticete skull likely evolved as a result of cranial kinesis, thus leading to multiple instances of morphological convergence across several different phylogenetic lineages. The paper is available online at: http://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app20120107.html You can contact me at: pavelgoldin...@gmail.com Regards, Pavel Dr Pavel Gol'din Department of Zoology Taurida National University Simferopol, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] new paper on cephalic presentation of foetus in a cetacean
Dear colleagues, The following paper was recently published in Vestnik Zoologii: Gol’din, P. E. 2011. Case of cephalic presentation of foetus in a harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena (Cetacea, Phocoenidae), with notes on other aquatic mammals. Vestnik Zoologii, 45 (5): 473-477. DOI 10.2478/v10058-011-0030-5 Abstract: A stranded harbour porpoise pregnant with a near-term foetus in cephalic (head) presentation was found. It is the first time when cephalic presentation, now recorded in three odontocete families, is reported for phocoenids. It proved to occur rarely, yet to be more widespread for aquatic mammals than could be expected. The publication is available online via Versita Publications at: http://versita.metapress.com/content/12q013v488w34r56/?p=588cb2738173463ab32e123abaa6c8e1&pi=5 You are welcome to contact the author at: pavelgoldin...@gmail.com Cheers, Pavel Dr Pavel Gol'din Department of Zoology, Taurida National University Simferopol, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] skeletons of kiler whales
Dear colleagues, I am studying skeleton of killer whales worldwide. My question is primarily to curators and researchers of museum collections. Does anyone have skulls, flippers, or whole skeletons of killer whales with known ages, estimated ages, or at least estimated age category, and with known sex? I will be extremely grateful for any information. Best regards, Pavel Dr Pavel E. Gol'din, Department of Zoology, V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University, Simferopol, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] head presentation of foetus in a porpoise
Dear colleagues, a few days ago I found a stranded dead pregnant harbor porpoise with the foetus laying with the head (cephalic) presentation. As far as I understand, it is a rather rare case for cetaceans. The most recent review I have found in literature had been made by Slijper (1967). Thus, I would be very grateful for your comments: do you know such cases in phocoenids (especially, harbour porpoises) and/or any published reports of such cases? Please send your comments to the following address: pavelgoldin...@gmail.com Thank you very much in advance, Dr Pavel E. Gol'din, Department of Zoology, V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University, Simferopol, Ukraine ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] cetacean rehabilitation regulations
Dear colleagues, The Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine is developing a national code to regulate handling marine mammals in capture and their rehabilitation. Any suggestions from local scientists and public organizations are highly appreciated. So I am looking for any existing regulations on rehabilitating cetaceans, especially on their holding in captivity and releasing, and, in general, laws and rules of holding cetaceans in captivity, especially: pool size, diet, limitations on show participation, mortality control, individual identification. I would greatly appreciate links and/or texts. Best regards, Pavel Pavel E. Gol'din PhD, Department of Zoology V. I. Vernadsky Taurida National University 4, Vernadsky Avenue, Simferopol, Crimea, 95007 Ukraine [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
