PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Delphinidae
GENUS: cephalorhynchus
SPECIES: eutropia
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Coastal water off Chile.
LENGTH (maximum): 5-6 Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 126-140 Lbs
RELATIVE SPECIES: Heaveside’s dolphin, Commerson’s dolphin.
OTHER NAMES: Black Dolphin
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Commerson’s dolphin, Burmeister’s Porpoise.
PREDATORS: Humans
THREATS: Occasionally caught in nets and then used for fish bait or human consumption. Their habitat is also threatened by salmon aquaculture facilities.
DIET: Small schooling fish such as sardines and anchovies. As well as squid and crustaceans.
MANNER OF FEEDING: Often seen playing with young salmon that have escaped or been released from salmon hatcheries.
BEHAVIOR: Strong and agile swimmers. Usually in groups of 2-3 but can be seen in groups of up to 50. In the southern channels they avoid boats, in the north they like to follow ships and bow ride.
REPRODUCTION: Unknown
LIFE SPAN: Unknown
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Was named the Black Dolphin because scientists had only observed dead specimens that had darkened in color.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/c_eutropia/c_eutropia.html
-TSF-
