Long distance offshore movements of bottlenose dolphins

Despite recent progress defining the morphological and genetic characterist ics of forms of the bottlenose dolphin inhabiting offshore waters, little i s known of their behavior or ranging patterns. Reports suggest that an "off shore form" exists between the 200- and 2,000-m isobaths in distinct Gulf o f Mexico and western North Atlantic stocks, while one or more coastal forms inhabit the waters inshore. Two opportunities to track rehabilitated adult male bottlenose dolphins with satellite-linked transmitters occurred in 19 97. "Rudy" stranded in NW Florida and was released in the Gulf of Mexico of f central west Florida. He moved around Florida and northward to off Cape H atteras, NC, covering 2,050 km in 43 d. "Gulliver" stranded near St. August ine and was released off Cape Canaveral, FL. He moved 4,200 km in 47 d to a location northeast of the Virgin Islands. Gulliver swam through 5,000-m-de ep waters 300 km offshore of the northern Caribbean islands, against the No rth Equatorial Current. These records expand the range and habitat previous ly reported for the offshore stock of bottlenose dolphins inhabiting the wa ters off the southeastern United States, underscore the difficulties of def ining pelagic stocks, illustrate the success of rehabilitation efforts, ind icate the value of follow-up monitoring of rehabilitated and released cetac eans, and expand our understanding of the long-range movement capabilities of a dolphin species more commonly thought of as a resident in coastal wate rs.