First records of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) in Pakistani waters: A review of occurrence and conservation status in the Indian ocean

The skull of a striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) was found in the Indus delta creek system of Pakistan during a beach survey. The subsequent morphometric investigations revealed that the skull was that of a juvenile/subadult striped dolphin. Coincidentally, a video of two live individuals and pictures of an entangled animal of the same species were captured in the open sea by the crew of a tuna fishing vessel off the same general area where the skull was retrieved. This video clearly depicts the species' unique colour pattern and supports the skeletal evidence of presence of striped dolphins in Pakistani waters. In addition, three videos of a small pod of rough-toothed dolphins Steno bredanensis (G. Cuvier in Lesson, 1828) were received from a captain of another tuna fishing vessel. This account documents the only records of these two species from Pakistan. Other records from the Indian Ocean region are discussed. Issues pertaining to conservation in Pakistan such as rampant and illegal use of very long gillnets by tuna fishers and over fishing are examined.