RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Underwater photo-identification of marine megafauna: an identity card catalogue of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off Mauritius Island JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2021.03.08.433909 DO 10.1101/2021.03.08.433909 A1 Sarano Véronique A1 Sarano François A1 Girardet Justine A1 Preud’homme Axel A1 Vitry Hugues A1 Heuzey René A1 Sarano Marion A1 Delfour Fabienne A1 Glotin Hervé A1 Adam Olivier A1 Madon Bénédicte A1 Jung Jean-Luc YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/03/09/2021.03.08.433909.abstract AB The long-term monitoring of long-lived animal populations often requires individual identification. For cetacean populations, this identification is mostly based on morphological characters observable from a boat such as shape, spots and cuts of the back, caudal and dorsal fins. This is well suited for species easily displaying their caudal fins, such as the humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae, or those whose skin pigmentation patterns enable individual identification.However, for elusive or shier species such as the sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus, this approach may be more challenging as individuals display a rather uniform skin pigmentation. They also do not show very often their caudal fin that must be photographed perpendicularly to the water surface, vertically and fully emerged, uneasing the individual identification from a boat. Immature sperm whales that usually have a caudal fin without any distinctive marks may sometimes be excluded from photo-identification catalogues.Within the framework of the Maubydick project, focusing on the long-term monitoring of sperm whales in Mauritius, passive underwater observation and video recording were used to identify long-lasting body markers (e.g., sex, ventral white markings, cut outs of fins) to improve individual identification. A catalogue of individual identity cards was developed and 38 individuals were recorded (six adult males, 18 adult females and 14 immatures). This catalogue was used in the field and enabled observers to record some nearly-daily and yearly recaptures. Advantages and disadvantages of this method are presented here.Such catalogues represent a robust baseline for conducting behavioural, genetic and acoustic studies in marine megafauna social species. Benefits of such newly acquired knowledge are of first importance to implement relevant conservation plans in the marine realm.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.