dolphins whales community
CHILEAN DOLPHIN
Cephalorhynchus eutropia
Classification:
As with other cetaceans, Chilean dolphins turn black after death.
Local fishermen knew them, as they were hunted for use as bait and food and in spite of now being illegal, this act had thought to be continue until today, although the numbers had decrease.
Appearance:
The Chilean dolphin is one of the world's smallest cetaceans.
It has a small thickset body with a cone like head, low inclined forehead and with no beak.
There are among 58-68 small sharp teeth in the upper jaw and 58-66 in the lower jaw.
The dorsal fin is low and rounded, the flippers small and rounded, and also there is a gap in the middle of the flukes. The flukes and dorsal fin have incurvate trail edges.
The body is grey, with a lighter grey melon and dark lower jaw which extends into a black band to the flippers.
There is a also a diagnostic black band expand from the blowhole to right above the eye and it has a special white throat as well as a white spot behind each flippers.
The belly is white with grey markings around the genital cut which can know between sexes.
In the wild it may be confused with the spectacled porpoise or the Burmeister's porpoise, but the dorsal fin and the rounded shape at the top of the fin is a very special feature.
Paying attention to the dorsal fin will lead to correct identification.
Behaviour:
There is little information on the behaviour of this species, but it has been described as shy, hard to keep close.
It can be in groups of 2 to 15 animals, sometime larger group have been seen.
It has a unique circular or a zigzag swimming motion that it uses to herd it's prey.
It can be seen being with Peale's dolphins and, when it is hunting, as with other Delphinid species, it is often link with feeding seabirds.
Other names:
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Black dolphin
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Chilean black dolphin
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White-bellied dolphin
1.
Maximum length:
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Male: 1.7m
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Female: 1.7m
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Calf: 1m
2.
Maximum weight:
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Male: 63kg
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Female: Unknown
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Calf: Unknown
3.
Diet:
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Fish (including sardines, anchovies and young salmon)
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Squid
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Crustaceans
4.
Estimated population:
< 5,000
5.
Distribution map:
Distribution:
The Chilean dolphin is special to the cold, shallow, coastal waters, estuaries, and channels around Chile from 33°S to the tip of South America. It seems to prefer areas with high tide range and is normally found in the mouths of fjords, bays, and sometimes entering rivers.
They also occur in the Strait of Magellan and channels of Tierra del Fuego.
Chilean dolphin is being threatened by hunting for consumption and use as bait for the Chilean crab fishery.
It also suffers from acciendical catching and habitat decrease.
Aquaculture farms and anti-sea lion nets decrease its natural range, and it is often being annoyed by boat traffic. The total population is unknown but thought to be only several thousand.