On Sunday the 28th of April the St. Maarten Nature Foundation was alerted to reports of a stranded dolphin on Guana Bay Beach. Upon arrival at the reported location the Nature Foundation noticed one (1) large delphinidae in a medium to advanced stage of decomposition 3.2 meters from the high water line.
Upon initial inspection it was difficult to determine species and samples were taken of the teeth and skin in order to conduct genetic testing. Expert consultation suggests that the species is likely Tursiops truncatus or bottlenose dolphin. The overall length of the animal was 254 centimetres.
Caption:Location of stranding: Guana Bay Beach NORTH Coordinates: 18.02’05.25" N 63.01’22.75" W
Significant skin sloughing was observed which suggests that the animal may have died some time ago and was washed up on the beach by the recent significant Northerly Swell past weekend.
A GPS location was taken of the animal, basic measurements were taken and a basic necropsy was performed.
Interestingly on Saturday, April 27th a similar stranding occurred in St. Barth’s.
Despite the advanced state of composition please find measurements below:
Measurements taken of Specimen in centimetres:
Length OA: 254 cm
Girth: 102 cm
Snout to melon: 35 CM
Snout to blowhole: 78 CM
Snout to anterior insertion dorsal fin: 81 CM
Snout to tip of dorsal fin: 101 CM
Snout to fluke notch: 250 CM
Snout to centre genital aperture: 125 CM
Flipper length: 40 CM
Flipper width: 17 CM
Fluke width: 68 CM
Dorsal fin height: 36 CM
The Carcass was buried in situ. Genetic samples have been shipped and results are pending