Samples of liver,pancreas,stomach,kidney,intestine,lung,muscle,heart,skin,and brain from two stranded Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(Sousa chinensis)near Xiamen harbor of China in April 2004 were analyzed for iron(Fe)concentration.The highest levels of Fe were found in the blood(2 471.0 μg/g,dry weight)and liver(2 968.2 μg/g,dry weight)of the animal XM20040429(female,body weight 86 kg,body length1.88 m,estimated age 2-3 year-old)and XM20040430(female,204 kg,2.45 m,4-5 year-old),respectively.In general,Fe concentrations were higher in blood,liver,lung,kidney and muscle than any other organs or tissues in both individuals,although there were obvious differences in body length,body weight and age between these two dolphins.This tissular distribution pattern of Fe concentration of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the present study is similar to those of Dall’s porpoises(Phocoenoides dalli),finless porpoises(Neophocaena phocaenoides)and striped dolphins(Stenella coeruleoalba)in the previous literatures.
