Rapport sur les petits cétacés ouest-Africains. Résultats des recherches entreprises sur ces animaux jusqu’au mois de mars 1959

Both the original French and an English translation of this report is available. In 1958, with the intention of increasing our knowledge of West African small cetaceans (especially odontocetes and in particular delphinids), the Marine Biology Section of IFAN attempted a special survey with the assistance and efficiency of the Fisheries Services of the governments of Senegal and the Ivory Coast. Parallel to this, a research campaign was undertaken with the fishermen, village chiefs and members of the educational community of the coastal areas. In spite of the difficulties encountered and so many diverse sources of information such as methods of observation or capture, the research has been fruitful. The results gained, in spite of their importance, nevertheless emphasise the fact that there is an enormous amount of work remaining to be carried out to adequately inventory the cetalogical fauna of these coasts and find out about their biology. Recalling each of the species having already given rise to publications, we have gathered together all the references on all observations made since then which remained unpublished until now.