Abstract

(…) Spondolytis deformans, a pathological deformation of the vertebral column, has so far been found in 41 cases in 26 recent and extinct cetacean species, among them the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) (Slijper 1936, van Bree & Duguy 1970 and Paterson 1983). This paper adds another six cases for the harbour porpoise. (…)