Chilean Dolphin
description
Transcript of Chilean Dolphin
CHILEAN DOLPHIN
By: John Hancock and Audra Day
Also Known As… Cephalorhynchus eutropia Black Dolphin White-Bellied Dolphin
Physical Description Smaller cetaceans
Average length of 5.5 feet and 130 pounds
Stocky body shape Blunt, beakless heads Round paddle shaped
flippers Gray in color with lighter
coloring on the ventral (bottom) side. White markings on the
lips, throat, forehead, and behind each flipper.
Distribution Endemic Species Found only in the
cold, coastal waters of South America, from Valparaiso, Chile,
down to Cape Horn, Argentina.
Reproduction and Lifespan Currently unknown
due to lack of research
They are thought to be similar to Hector's and Commerson's dolphinsWith a gestation
period of 10 months to one year
And a maximum longevity of 20 years.
Hector’s Dolphin
Commerson’s Dolphin
FeedingThey have been known to eat:
Green AlgeaCephalopodsCrustaceansSmaller fish
○ Such as sardines and anchovies
Habitat From the Journal of
the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom:“Fine-scale habitat
selection of Chilean dolphins (Cephalorhynchus eutropia): interactions with aquaculture activities in southern Chiloé Island, Chile.”
Purpose of the study:
“… to investigate the environmental and behavioral determinants of habitat use, and to evaluate the interactions between this species and aquaculture activities”○ Conducted between January and April
2002.○ 293.5 hours of observation
Habitat Selection Dolphins were found
to spend 91% of their time in areas within 500 m. of the coast, in depths between 5-10 m.Only 21% of the study
area
More findings Foraging was the most observed behavior Scanning or
searching for food, possibly benthic feeding
Interactions with Aquaculture No significant association between intense habitat
use and distance to salmon farms. However, mussel coverage restricts space available
for biologically important behaviors They avoid areas of
high mussel density.About 15.3% of their
preferred habitat was unavailable due to mussel coverage.
Threats Hunting dolphins is illegal in Chile
Accidental catching is a huge threatThey are sometimes killed for human
consumption or crab and swordfish bait○ 1,300-1,500 dolphins have been reported
harpooned each yearRemote locations make enforcing laws
difficult
Conservation Status Population size is
estimated in the low thousands, so they are vulnerable.Not a lot of
information available, but populations seem to be declining
IUCN lists the Chilean Dolphin as Near Threatened. Pending more
research
Sources http://www.lume.ufrgs.br/bitstream
/handle/10183/27461/000611325.pdf?...1
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/4160/0 http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=348