On October 1, 2009, sixteen dolphins were obtained from fishermen by incidental catching in the Yellow Sea, China. As the dolphins＇ skin color was ambiguous, morphological parameters were measured, and mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b （Cyt b） gene sequence was studied to identify the species. Morphological characteristics were consistent with Pantropical spotted dolphins, Stenella attenuata. Furthermore, a partial mitochondrial DNA eytoehrome b （Cyt b） gene sequence as long as 328-bp was studied by extracting genomic DNA from the skins, and six haplotypes were detected in the sixteen dolphins. By comparing homologous sequences available in GenBank （www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov）, all the six haplotypes had maximal genetic similarity with Pantropical spotted dolphin. Eight species of cetacean （whales and dolphins） are now recognised in the Yellow Sea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of Pantropical spotted dolphins from this region. Despite this species being listed as a Grade II National Key Protected Animal since 1988, little is known of its biology in Chinese waters. We recommend remedial research be undertaken to ensure appropriate management.
Observations were made on one eye from a Longman’s beaked whale Indopacetus pacificus, which was probably one of the least known extant cetaceans. The whale died shortly after swimming aground on the coast in the Nishikata Beach, Sendai-shi, Kagoshima-ken Prefecture, Japan, on July 26, 2002. It was a mature female with body length 6.45 m. This paper documented the basic structural characteristics of her visual organ of the whale in order to better understand this animal.
