PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Delphinidae
GENUS: Lagenorhynchus
SPECIES: australis
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Along the coast of southern South America
LENGTH (maximum): 7Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): Unknown
RELATIVE SPECIES: Dusky Dolphin, White-sided dolphins, hourglass dolphin
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Dusky dolphin, Chilean dolphin, Commerson’s dolphin
PREDATORS: Humans
THREATS: Occasionally caught in fishing gear
DIET: Squid, octopus, crabs, shrimp, small bottom dwelling fish
MANNER OF FEEDING: Weaving throughout the kelp searching for food. Feed in straight lines or large circular formations. Sometimes create a “flower” shape and create a whirlpool while feeding.
BEHAVIOR: Breaching, spyhopping, head slapping. Somewhat slow moving. Patrolling parallel to the shore in shallow waters. Are often seen in groups of 2-20 and with Commerson’s dolphin.
REPRODUCTION: Unknown
LIFE SPAN: Unknown
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Very rare, only found in a small distribution.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/L_australis/L_australis.htm
-TSF-
