The Occurrence and Individual Identification Study of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose DolphinsTursiops aduncusin the Waters Around Amami Oshima Island, Southern Japan: A preliminary Report

A preliminary study around Amami Oshima Island, Japan, identified at least 100 individual Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) using photo-identification techniques from 2007 to 2013. Dolphins were predominantly found in the Oshima Strait and western coast, with group sizes averaging smaller in the strait (median: 8, range: 1–50). The cumulative count of identified individuals increased over time, suggesting a larger population than initially estimated. This highlights the need for continued photo-identification efforts to refine population size estimates. Surveys relied on concentrated sampling and community contributions, offering insights into dolphin distribution and social structure in this UNESCO-recognized region.

Funasaka, N., Okabe, H., Oki, K., Tokutake, K., Kawazu, I., & Yoshioka, M. (2016). The Occurrence and Individual Identification Study of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose DolphinsTursiops aduncusin the Waters Around Amami Oshima Island, Southern Japan: A preliminary Report. Mammal Study, 41(3), 163–169. https://doi.org/10.3106/041.041.0307