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First records of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) in the Mediterranean Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2009

J.J. Bellido*
Affiliation:
Centro de Recuperación de Especies Marinas Amenazadas, CREMA, Junta de Andalucía, Aula del Mar de Málaga, Avda. M. Heredia, 35 29001, Málaga, Spain Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071 Málaga, Spain
J.J. Castillo
Affiliation:
Centro de Recuperación de Especies Marinas Amenazadas, CREMA, Junta de Andalucía, Aula del Mar de Málaga, Avda. M. Heredia, 35 29001, Málaga, Spain
M.A. Farfán
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071 Málaga, Spain
J.J. Martín
Affiliation:
Centro de Recuperación de Especies Marinas Amenazadas, CREMA, Junta de Andalucía, Aula del Mar de Málaga, Avda. M. Heredia, 35 29001, Málaga, Spain
J.L. Mons
Affiliation:
Centro de Recuperación de Especies Marinas Amenazadas, CREMA, Junta de Andalucía, Aula del Mar de Málaga, Avda. M. Heredia, 35 29001, Málaga, Spain
R. Real
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071 Málaga, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.J. Bellido, Centro de Recuperación de Especies Marinas Amenazadas, CREMA, Junta de Andalucía, Aula del Mar de Málaga, Avda. M. Heredia, 35 29001, Málaga, Spain email: crema@auladelmar.info
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Abstract

Between the years 1996 and 2006 the Threatened Marine Species Recovery Centre (CREMA) detected 14 strandings and sightings of hooded seals in the coasts surrounding the Strait of Gibraltar. Five strandings and the only three sightings occurred on the Spanish coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. CREMA or its stranding report network did not deal directly with the stranded or sighted individuals but there were good descriptions and photographs to confirm identification. The frequency of stranding and sighting of hooded seal individuals on the southern coast of Spain indicate that the migratory movements of this species are performed by groups of young animals less than one year old.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2007

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References

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