Stomach contents of bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) in Scottish waters

Abstract

Data on stomach contents of ten bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) stranded and by-caught around Scotland (UK) between 1990 and 1999 are presented. Although the species is resident in the Moray Firth (north-east Scotland), little previous information exists on the feeding habits of the species in Scottish waters. Cod ( Gadus morhua ), saithe ( Pollachius virens ) and whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ) were found to be the main prey eaten although several other fish species were also found, including salmon ( Salmo salar ) and haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus ), and also cephalopods.