Greetings,
From a
review of the literature, it appears only right whales and sperm whales
typically float upon death. I'm looking for information on whether freshly dead
dwarf or pygmy sperm whales (Kogia) sink or float upon death, to try to
interpret stranding patterns of Kogia in Hawaii. Stranded animals are often
found dead on the beach, but the question is whether these animals live stranded
and died before being found, moved into shallow water before dying (so that
if they did die and sink immediately, the carcasses might re-float after
decomposition sets in), or if they may have died offshore, floated, and
were washed in to the beach? I assume that if animals die in deep water but
sink, they are unlikely to re-float (see Allison et al. 1991). If anyone has
experience with live strandings or net entanglements of Kogia, where animals are
returned to the water but succumb or are disposed of at sea after death, or have
other experience that may be relevant, please let me know.
Thanks very
much,
Robin