Evi Hanninger

I am a Massey University PhD scholar who joined the Cetacean Ecology Research Group (CERG) in February 2023. My research focuses on the aging and anatomy of New Zealand common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). I previously studied Biology at the University of Basel (Switzerland), majoring in animal and plant sciences, before completing a Master’s in Sustainable Development. For my master’s thesis, I investigated injuries, emaciation, and skin conditions in cetaceans of the Strait of Gibraltar, which resulted in two papers published in the Journal for Cetacean Research and Management in 2023.

In my PhD, I am examining pectoral fin bone morphology and age estimation in common dolphins. While age in cetaceans is typically assessed by counting growth layer groups (GLGs) in teeth, my work explores alternative approaches using bone ossification stages of the flipper in comparison with GLG counts and epigenetic clocks. I am also interested in forelimb deformities and bone fractures to better understand skeletal health and development in dolphins.