Marine Mammals of Turkey
Marine Mammals of Turkey
Ayhan Dede, Ph.D & Arda M. Tonay, Ph.D.
There are 92 species of whales and dolphins belonging to the order Cetacea known in the world's oceans and freshwaters. Systematically, they are divided into two groups: toothed whales (Suborder: Odontoceti) and toothless whales (Suborder: Misticeti). Although it causes some confusion, there is a general tendency to call those larger than 4 meters whales and those smaller than 4 meters dolphins. The main characteristic of these species is that they evolved from land to sea and have adapted to live in water throughout their lives. In addition, excluding manatees (Order: Sirenia), 39 more mammal species, including seals, sea lions, walruses, polar bears, and otters, belonging to the order Carnivora, which are dependent on land for reasons such as reproduction, pregnancy, and feeding, are also considered marine mammals.
In the Mediterranean, including the Black Sea basin, 24 different species of Cetacea (27 including subspecies) are known to be present permanently or temporarily. In Turkish waters, a total of 12 species can be observed, some of which are rare (Table 1). Another marine mammal observed on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey is the endangered Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus.
Table 1. Marine Mammals Found in Turkish Seas
Mysticeti (Bare whales)
Balaenoptera physalus (Fin whale)
Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Mink whale)
Odontoceti (Toothed whales)
Physeter macrocephalus (Sperm whale)
Ziphius cavirostris (Beaked whale)
Globicephala melas (Black dolphin)
Pseudorca crassidens (False killer whale)
Grampus griseus (Grampus)
Tursiops truncatus (Bone dolphin)
Stenella coeruleoalba (Striped dolphin)
Delphinus delphis (Common dolphin)
Phocoena phocoena (Harbor dolphin)
Sousa plumbea (Humpback dolphin)
Pinnipedia (Pintails)
Monachus monachus (Mediterranean Monk Seal)
In Turkey, hunting all marine mammals has been prohibited since 1983, and they are protected primarily by the Fisheries Law No. 1380 and international agreements to which our country is a party, such as the Barcelona Convention and its sub-protocols.
Moorish Dolphin (Phocoena phocoena)
They are distributed only in cool seas and subpolar regions of the northern hemisphere, generally in shallow waters and coastal areas. Their body shape is more rounded than other dolphins, with a small head, no bowline, and no beak. The dorsal part is dark gray, black, or ash-colored, while the belly is light white. The pectoral fins are short, and the dorsal fin is short and triangular. Newborns are 70-90 cm long, and adults are 1.4-1.8 m (usually shorter than 1.5 m). Weight can range from 40-86 kg. It is found only in the Black Sea within the Mediterranean basin and is the smallest member of the cetacean (porpoise). However, there are observation and mortality records in the Northern Aegean and Eastern Marmara. It feeds on both benthic (demersal) fish, especially whiting and horse mackerel, and pelagic fish. Groups usually consist of fewer than 8 individuals, but during migration and feeding movements, they form groups of 50 or hundreds. They rarely jump out of the water. They are accidentally caught in nets during some fishing practices. In Turkey, it is distributed along the Black Sea coast and suffers significant population losses during turbot fishing in the western Black Sea in April, May, and June.
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
It is a cosmopolitan species with a wide distribution in coastal and inland sea regions. It lives throughout the Mediterranean, generally in coastal areas and sometimes in the open sea. Its body is torpedo-shaped and has a coarse appearance. A distinctive bowline shape, short snout, and a high, sickle-shaped dorsal fin in the middle of the body are distinguishable. The body is usually grey, sometimes black. The belly is light grey-white. Two light-colored stripes run from the eye to the pectoral fin, and the other from the side of the body to the base of the dorsal fin. The pectoral fins and belly may sometimes be spotted. They feed mainly on fish, especially red mullet, anchovy, and horse mackerel, but may also feed on shrimp and cephalopods. Adults can reach 1.9-3.8 m in length and 650 kg in weight. Gestation lasts 11 months, and they nurse their young for 4-6 months. They form small groups of fewer than 20 individuals, but schools of a few hundred individuals can be seen in the open sea. They can race with fishing vessels. While fishing, they sometimes damage nets. However, in the Black Sea, deaths from entanglement in nets are also observed. They are found along all coasts of Turkey.
Common Budgie (Delphinus delphis)
It lives in tropical and warm ocean and open sea regions. The rostrum is slender and long. The middle of the sickle-shaped dorsal fin is light in color. The back is dark gray or black, the belly is white. The characteristic dark “V” shape under the dorsal fin divides the body into two sections of different colors; the part towards the head is cream (orange), and the back is pale gray. Newborns reach 80-85 cm, adult females 2.3 m, and males 2.6 m. Weight can reach 135 kg. They move quickly and can form groups of 100-500 individuals and schools of thousands in the oceans. They form small schools.
Fish, nocturnal creatures migrating to the surface, and squid are their main food sources. They can be found in all of Turkey's seas.
Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
A cosmopolitan species living in tropical and temperate zones, oceans, and open seas. They approach the shore in areas where deep waters are close to the coast. Relatively slender head and long rostrum, sickle-shaped dorsal fin, spotted pectoral fins. The back is dark or bluish-grey. Two stripes run along the sides, one to the pectoral fin and the other to the anus; a light grey stripe runs along the side of the body, gradually narrowing towards the dorsal fin, but does not cross the dorsal fin. The belly is pinkish-white. Adults can reach 2.6 m in length. Adults living in the Mediterranean are between 2-2.5 m long. They can weigh up to 150 kg. They usually form herds of 100-500 individuals. Their gestation period is 11 months. Specifically, anglerfish feed on small to medium-sized fish and cephalopods. They are sometimes confused with D. delphis. They are fast swimmers and frequently leap out of the water. In Turkey, they are distributed along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Deaths from entanglement in nets during swordfishing are known.
Grampus (Grampus griseus)
This species lives a pelagic life. It is mostly observed in the open sea in temperate and warm regions. It is a species that prefers waters of 1000 m and deeper. It is distributed throughout the Mediterranean. The body is long and stocky, the head is melon-shaped and short. The lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper jaw. The male has two teeth in the lower jaw. The dorsal fin can be triangular or sickle-shaped and is located on 2/3 of the body towards the tail. The color is dark gray-brown on the back. In adult individuals, the head is white. There are white stripes and irregular oval spots on the sides. They feed on cephalopods, some fish, and crustaceans. They usually live in groups of 2-7 individuals, and dives lasting up to 40 minutes have been recorded. Newborns reach 2.7 m, adult females 7 m, and males 7.5 m in length. They can weigh up to 3 tons. In Turkey, they are found along the Mediterranean coast.
Pilot Dolphin, Black Dolphin (Globicephala melas)
Distributed in temperate waters and subpolar regions. The body is black or dark gray. A light-colored spot with an anchor pattern may be seen on the chest and a lighter coloration behind the dorsal fin. The melas is spherical. The pectoral fin is flat and quite long (18-27% of body length). Newborns reach 1.7-1.8 m, adult males 6.7 m, and females 5.7 m in length. Adults can weigh up to 2 tons. They usually form schools of 20-100 individuals. It is one of the species that frequently experiences mass mortality. It feeds mainly on cephalopods and small to medium-sized fish. It is mostly distributed in the Western Mediterranean, and in Turkey it can be seen on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Beaked Whale, Ziphius (Ziphius cavirostris)
They have a wide distribution in tropical and temperate zones in both hemispheres, in waters above the continental slope. They form small schools and may accompany other dolphin schools. Coloration ranges from light gray to light brown-gray in juveniles, and from dark gray to white in adults. Adults have white stripes, spots, and patches on their bodies. The sickle-shaped dorsal fin is located in the middle of the body. They have long, spotted pectoral fins. Newborns reach 1.2-1.5 m, adults 3-4 m in length and 400 kg in weight. They live pelagicly and rarely enter areas less than 200 m deep. In Turkey, they can be seen in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Deaths from entanglement in nets during swordfishing are known.
False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)
They are generally found in tropical and temperate regions, in the open sea, in deep waters. The body is black to dark gray; the belly is gray-white. Lighter colored areas can be distinguished on the head and chest. The sickle-shaped dorsal fin is located in the middle of the body. The pectoral fins are characteristic of the species with their prominent anterior edges. They feed on various fish and cephalopods. They live in groups of 10-50 individuals. It is a species that experiences mass mortality. Newborns reach 1.5-2.1 m, males 5.5-6 m, and females 4.5-5 m in length; large males can weigh up to 2 tons. An individual of this species was found injured at Urla pier in 1994 and later died. Although rare in Turkey, it can be seen on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Sperm Jack (Physeter macrocephalus)
The sperm jackal is a cosmopolitan species in the world's seas and oceans. They can dive to depths of up to 1500 meters. They live in the open sea, in deep waters, but can also be seen in deep waters near the shore. Sperm jackals can form groups of 2-50 individuals. They can stay underwater for 1-2 hours. This species is the largest of the Odontoceti. The body is generally black, gray-brown, with a white mouth and belly. It has a large, angular head (1/3 of the total length) and a single blowhole on top of the head pointing forward to the left. A characteristic feature is the irregular spray of water during breathing, first forward and then to the left, which can rise up to 5 meters. The tail usually rises before long dives. Newborns
Ayhan Dede, Ph.D & Arda M. Tonay, Ph.D.
There are 92 species of whales and dolphins belonging to the order Cetacea known in the world's oceans and freshwaters. Systematically, they are divided into two groups: toothed whales (Suborder: Odontoceti) and toothless whales (Suborder: Misticeti). Although it causes some confusion, there is a general tendency to call those larger than 4 meters whales and those smaller than 4 meters dolphins. The main characteristic of these species is that they evolved from land to sea and have adapted to live in water throughout their lives. In addition, excluding manatees (Order: Sirenia), 39 more mammal species, including seals, sea lions, walruses, polar bears, and otters, belonging to the order Carnivora, which are dependent on land for reasons such as reproduction, pregnancy, and feeding, are also considered marine mammals.
In the Mediterranean, including the Black Sea basin, 24 different species of Cetacea (27 including subspecies) are known to be present permanently or temporarily. In Turkish waters, a total of 12 species can be observed, some of which are rare (Table 1). Another marine mammal observed on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey is the endangered Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus.
Table 1. Marine Mammals Found in Turkish Seas
Mysticeti (Bare whales)
Balaenoptera physalus (Fin whale)
Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Mink whale)
Odontoceti (Toothed whales)
Physeter macrocephalus (Sperm whale)
Ziphius cavirostris (Beaked whale)
Globicephala melas (Black dolphin)
Pseudorca crassidens (False killer whale)
Grampus griseus (Grampus)
Tursiops truncatus (Bone dolphin)
Stenella coeruleoalba (Striped dolphin)
Delphinus delphis (Common dolphin)
Phocoena phocoena (Harbor dolphin)
Sousa plumbea (Humpback dolphin)
Pinnipedia (Pintails)
Monachus monachus (Mediterranean Monk Seal)
In Turkey, hunting all marine mammals has been prohibited since 1983, and they are protected primarily by the Fisheries Law No. 1380 and international agreements to which our country is a party, such as the Barcelona Convention and its sub-protocols.
Moorish Dolphin (Phocoena phocoena)
They are distributed only in cool seas and subpolar regions of the northern hemisphere, generally in shallow waters and coastal areas. Their body shape is more rounded than other dolphins, with a small head, no bowline, and no beak. The dorsal part is dark gray, black, or ash-colored, while the belly is light white. The pectoral fins are short, and the dorsal fin is short and triangular. Newborns are 70-90 cm long, and adults are 1.4-1.8 m (usually shorter than 1.5 m). Weight can range from 40-86 kg. It is found only in the Black Sea within the Mediterranean basin and is the smallest member of the cetacean (porpoise). However, there are observation and mortality records in the Northern Aegean and Eastern Marmara. It feeds on both benthic (demersal) fish, especially whiting and horse mackerel, and pelagic fish. Groups usually consist of fewer than 8 individuals, but during migration and feeding movements, they form groups of 50 or hundreds. They rarely jump out of the water. They are accidentally caught in nets during some fishing practices. In Turkey, it is distributed along the Black Sea coast and suffers significant population losses during turbot fishing in the western Black Sea in April, May, and June.
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
It is a cosmopolitan species with a wide distribution in coastal and inland sea regions. It lives throughout the Mediterranean, generally in coastal areas and sometimes in the open sea. Its body is torpedo-shaped and has a coarse appearance. A distinctive bowline shape, short snout, and a high, sickle-shaped dorsal fin in the middle of the body are distinguishable. The body is usually grey, sometimes black. The belly is light grey-white. Two light-colored stripes run from the eye to the pectoral fin, and the other from the side of the body to the base of the dorsal fin. The pectoral fins and belly may sometimes be spotted. They feed mainly on fish, especially red mullet, anchovy, and horse mackerel, but may also feed on shrimp and cephalopods. Adults can reach 1.9-3.8 m in length and 650 kg in weight. Gestation lasts 11 months, and they nurse their young for 4-6 months. They form small groups of fewer than 20 individuals, but schools of a few hundred individuals can be seen in the open sea. They can race with fishing vessels. While fishing, they sometimes damage nets. However, in the Black Sea, deaths from entanglement in nets are also observed. They are found along all coasts of Turkey.
Common Budgie (Delphinus delphis)
It lives in tropical and warm ocean and open sea regions. The rostrum is slender and long. The middle of the sickle-shaped dorsal fin is light in color. The back is dark gray or black, the belly is white. The characteristic dark “V” shape under the dorsal fin divides the body into two sections of different colors; the part towards the head is cream (orange), and the back is pale gray. Newborns reach 80-85 cm, adult females 2.3 m, and males 2.6 m. Weight can reach 135 kg. They move quickly and can form groups of 100-500 individuals and schools of thousands in the oceans. They form small schools.
Fish, nocturnal creatures migrating to the surface, and squid are their main food sources. They can be found in all of Turkey's seas.
Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
A cosmopolitan species living in tropical and temperate zones, oceans, and open seas. They approach the shore in areas where deep waters are close to the coast. Relatively slender head and long rostrum, sickle-shaped dorsal fin, spotted pectoral fins. The back is dark or bluish-grey. Two stripes run along the sides, one to the pectoral fin and the other to the anus; a light grey stripe runs along the side of the body, gradually narrowing towards the dorsal fin, but does not cross the dorsal fin. The belly is pinkish-white. Adults can reach 2.6 m in length. Adults living in the Mediterranean are between 2-2.5 m long. They can weigh up to 150 kg. They usually form herds of 100-500 individuals. Their gestation period is 11 months. Specifically, anglerfish feed on small to medium-sized fish and cephalopods. They are sometimes confused with D. delphis. They are fast swimmers and frequently leap out of the water. In Turkey, they are distributed along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Deaths from entanglement in nets during swordfishing are known.
Grampus (Grampus griseus)
This species lives a pelagic life. It is mostly observed in the open sea in temperate and warm regions. It is a species that prefers waters of 1000 m and deeper. It is distributed throughout the Mediterranean. The body is long and stocky, the head is melon-shaped and short. The lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper jaw. The male has two teeth in the lower jaw. The dorsal fin can be triangular or sickle-shaped and is located on 2/3 of the body towards the tail. The color is dark gray-brown on the back. In adult individuals, the head is white. There are white stripes and irregular oval spots on the sides. They feed on cephalopods, some fish, and crustaceans. They usually live in groups of 2-7 individuals, and dives lasting up to 40 minutes have been recorded. Newborns reach 2.7 m, adult females 7 m, and males 7.5 m in length. They can weigh up to 3 tons. In Turkey, they are found along the Mediterranean coast.
Pilot Dolphin, Black Dolphin (Globicephala melas)
Distributed in temperate waters and subpolar regions. The body is black or dark gray. A light-colored spot with an anchor pattern may be seen on the chest and a lighter coloration behind the dorsal fin. The melas is spherical. The pectoral fin is flat and quite long (18-27% of body length). Newborns reach 1.7-1.8 m, adult males 6.7 m, and females 5.7 m in length. Adults can weigh up to 2 tons. They usually form schools of 20-100 individuals. It is one of the species that frequently experiences mass mortality. It feeds mainly on cephalopods and small to medium-sized fish. It is mostly distributed in the Western Mediterranean, and in Turkey it can be seen on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Beaked Whale, Ziphius (Ziphius cavirostris)
They have a wide distribution in tropical and temperate zones in both hemispheres, in waters above the continental slope. They form small schools and may accompany other dolphin schools. Coloration ranges from light gray to light brown-gray in juveniles, and from dark gray to white in adults. Adults have white stripes, spots, and patches on their bodies. The sickle-shaped dorsal fin is located in the middle of the body. They have long, spotted pectoral fins. Newborns reach 1.2-1.5 m, adults 3-4 m in length and 400 kg in weight. They live pelagicly and rarely enter areas less than 200 m deep. In Turkey, they can be seen in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Deaths from entanglement in nets during swordfishing are known.
False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)
They are generally found in tropical and temperate regions, in the open sea, in deep waters. The body is black to dark gray; the belly is gray-white. Lighter colored areas can be distinguished on the head and chest. The sickle-shaped dorsal fin is located in the middle of the body. The pectoral fins are characteristic of the species with their prominent anterior edges. They feed on various fish and cephalopods. They live in groups of 10-50 individuals. It is a species that experiences mass mortality. Newborns reach 1.5-2.1 m, males 5.5-6 m, and females 4.5-5 m in length; large males can weigh up to 2 tons. An individual of this species was found injured at Urla pier in 1994 and later died. Although rare in Turkey, it can be seen on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Sperm Jack (Physeter macrocephalus)
The sperm jackal is a cosmopolitan species in the world's seas and oceans. They can dive to depths of up to 1500 meters. They live in the open sea, in deep waters, but can also be seen in deep waters near the shore. Sperm jackals can form groups of 2-50 individuals. They can stay underwater for 1-2 hours. This species is the largest of the Odontoceti. The body is generally black, gray-brown, with a white mouth and belly. It has a large, angular head (1/3 of the total length) and a single blowhole on top of the head pointing forward to the left. A characteristic feature is the irregular spray of water during breathing, first forward and then to the left, which can rise up to 5 meters. The tail usually rises before long dives. Newborns
