For the first time, it was recorded in the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey

The Deniz Emelileri Araştırma Derneği (DMAD) captured images of a new dolphin species, known as the 'rough-toothed' or 'coarse-toothed' dolphin, which had never been recorded in Turkey's waters before, during this year’s research expedition.

With the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP), DMAD's expert teams conduct scientific research expeditions on marine mammals such as whales and dolphins every year in the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. In this year's research expedition, Dr. Aylin Akkaya, the founder of DMAD, and DMAD specialists discovered a new dolphin species that had no previous records in Turkey's waters. A video featuring images of the rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), recorded for the first time in Turkey's waters, has also been prepared and described as an "exciting discovery".

A HABITAT SHIFT MAY BE OCCURRING

Leyla İsrapilova, a marine biology expert from the DMAD team, announced that during this year's research, they successfully recorded a dolphin species that had never been observed in Turkey before, although it is known to exist in other Eastern Mediterranean countries. She stated, “This is the rough-toothed dolphin or coarse-toothed dolphin. This dolphin species loves warm waters and is found in deep waters. Did it come to Turkish waters for the first time, or was it normally present? More research is needed for this. Water temperatures in the Mediterranean had increased significantly this year; perhaps this is causing a habitat shift. As research increases, we may determine that it has always been present here. So, this is something that can emerge with more research”.

HUMAN-RELATED THREATS

Leyla İsrapilova highlighted that the inclusion of this new dolphin species in the list of marine mammals in Turkey underscores the importance of Turkish waters for marine mammals. She emphasized, “Because there is another endangered species found in Turkey's Mediterranean waters. This shows that we need to make efforts to protect these waters. If this species is found in these waters and is utilizing them, it is a key species. Like other marine mammals, it is very important; therefore, we need to make efforts to ensure its continued existence. We must be cautious about human-related threats such as ship traffic, underwater noise, and excessive industrial fishing”.