Cetacean sightings around the Republic of the Maldives, April 1998

In April 1998, as part of a project to collect biopsy samples putative pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in the waters around Republic Maldives, Indian Ocean, incidental sightings cetaceans encountered were recorded. Using modified line-transect methods and handheld binoculars, total 267 16 species dolphins recorded during 20 at-sea days northeastern atoll. Significant results include following: (1) abundant diversity was high, including nearly every pantropical pelagic cetacean; (2) spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) by far most common (56 sightings) also had largest mean school size ( = 50.3 individuals); (3) rare; only four individuals sighted; (4) large concentration Bryde’s (28 two days) apparently feeding nearshore waters; (5) this paper reports first records for Maldives Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Blainville’s (Mesoplodon densirostris) dwarf sperm (Kogia sima): latter particularly (17 sightings); (6) spotted attenuata) rare almost always associated with yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), dolphin, or seabirds, has been reported eastern Pacific western oceans.