Aggressive/submissive behaviour


DOM - DIRECT OPEN MOUTH

Opened mouth directed at another; often with abrupt vertical head movement.

Reference

Samuels & Gifford T. (1997) A quantitative assessment of dominance relations among bottlenose dolphins. Marine Mammal Science, 14.1, 70-99.

Inia geoffrensis


BSL - BODY SLAM

A charging dolphin slams into another with any part of its body other than its rostrum, peduncle and tail, fins and pecs.

Reference

Connor R.C. & Smolker R.A. (1990) Quantitative description of a rare behavioral event: A bottlenose dolphin' s behavior toward her deceased offspring. In: The bottlenose dolphin, Latherwood S. & Reeves R.R. (eds.) pp.355-360.

Inia geoffrensis


BIT - BITE

One animal draws the open jaws across another animal's body or extremities; often leaving parallel lines.

Reference

Pryor K. (1990) Non-acoustic communication in small cetaceans: glance, touch, position, gesture and bubbles.  In: Sensory Abilities of Cetaceans. Thomas J. &  Kastelein R. (eds.), Plenum Press, New York, pp. 537-544.

Inia geoffrensis


RHT - ROSTRUM HIT

One dolphins hits another dolphin with its rostrum.

Reference

Dudzinski K.M. (1996) Communication and behavior in the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis): Relationships between vocal and behavioral activities. PhD dissertation, Texas A & M University. 215 pp. (Appendix C).

Inia geoffrensis