First record of an entirely white harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta Abel 1905)in Romanian Black Sea waters after 27 years
Paiu, R.-M.; Dumitru, M. (2021). First record of an entirely white harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta Abel 1905)
in Romanian Black Sea waters after 27 years
. Oltenia Studii Si Comunicari Stiintele Naturii 37(1): 138-143
In: Oltenia Studii Si Comunicari Stiintele Naturii: Craiova. ISSN 1454-6914, more
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| Keywords |
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| Author keywords |
harbour porpoise, albino, anomalously white |
| Abstract |
The harbour porpoise together with the common dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin are the only cetacean species within the Black Sea. Cases of completely white animals are rare in nature and even more in case of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). When it comes to porpoises, the world-wide spread of such cases is low, and even more within the Black Sea. Thus, only 9 previous cases were recorded, two of which in the Strait of Istanbul. There are several reasons or explanation for skindepigmentation such as albinism, piebaldism, vitiligo and poliosis. Albinism is widespread in the animal kingdom, and the expression is used to refer to a genetic disorder, which is manifested by the lack of body pigments. Genetic studies showed that albinism is caused by a mutation of a gene that regulates the production of melanin, the pigment protein in skin, hair and eyes. The gene inheritance is conditioned by the presence in both genitors. In 1993 an albino harbour porpoise was found stranded on the EforieSud beach. The present article brings another sighting, after 27 years, of an anomalously white harbour porpoise in Romanian Black Sea waters. |
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