A feeding association between Wilson’s Storm-petrels Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl, 1820) and Rough-toothed Dolphins Steno bredanensis (G. Cuvier in Lesson, 1828)

On 06 October 2012 a pod of Rough-toothed Dolphins Steno bredanensis (Delphinidae) was observed catching and tearing apart several Castin Leatherjacks Oligoplites saliens (Carangidae) near Montao de Trigo Island, northern coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The resulting floating masses of viscera attracted a feeding aggregation of 120-150 Wilson's Storm-petrels Oceanites oceanicus (Hydrobatidae), a transequatorial migrant passing through the area during October. This interspecific association has not been recorded before, although it could be expected given that S. bredanensis feeds on large fish and O. oceanicus is a known scavenger of kills made by cetaceans such as Killer Whales.

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