Dear MARMAM community,
We are pleased to announce the following publication in Canadian Journal of Zoology: Marie-Thérèse Mrusczok, Elizabeth Zwamborn, Menja von Schmalensee, Sara Rodríguez Ramallo, and Robert A. Stefansson. *First account of apparent alloparental care of a long-finned pilot whale calf (Globicephala melas) by a female killer whale (Orcinus orca)*. Canadian Journal of Zoology. e-First https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2022-0161 Abstract: Interactions between killer whales (*Orcinus orca* (Linnaeus, 1758)) and long-finned pilot whales (*Globicephala melas* (Traill, 1809)) have been documented on numerous occasions, usually involving predation events and pursuits. Here, the first documented account of a long-finned pilot whale calf seen in echelon position with one killer whale in a group of three killer whales is described, along with one further interaction of the same killer whale group with other long-finned pilot whales. Behavioral, locational, and photographic data were recorded and analyzed for killer whales between 2011 and 2022 and for long-finned pilot whales between 2019 and 2022 off West Iceland. The data were used to obtain background information on the killer whale group involved in the apparent alloparental behavior. The described event also presents the first documented account of epimeletic behavior of a killer whale toward a non-conspecific. The movements of the same killer whale group in conjunction with other killer whales during a subsequent interaction with a group of long-finned pilot whales do not fit any previously observed behavioral patterns described for interactions between these species and may represent an active effort to obtain another long-finned pilot whale calf. Long-finned pilot whale and killer whale interactions might be more complex than previously thought and influenced by multiple drivers. The full article is now freely accessible at: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjz-2022-0161 Find our public education video on this topic here: https://youtu.be/d6iuEpK4Nvk Find more information on our research efforts at: www.orcaguardians.org www.pilotwhalesofcanada.com www.nsv.is For further inquiries please contact: i...@orcaguardians.org All the best, Marie Mrusczok
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