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Article: Killer whale predation on a leatherback turtle in the northeast Pacific (1).
- Article from:
- Pacific Science
- Article date:
- July 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 University of Hawaii Press. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Abstract: In November 2001, we observed a herd of killer whales (Orcinus orca) preying upon a leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) off the coast of California. Here we provide details of the event and speculate that oceanic killer whales may have less specialized diets than nearshore populations. We also suggest that killer whale predation should be considered a factor in the recovery of this critically endangered sea turtle.
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ON 3 NOVEMBER 2001, while conducting a marine mammal survey off the west coast of the United States, we observed a herd of killer whales, Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758), feeding on a leatherback turtle, Dermochelys ...