Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 16
L
IFE
H
ISTORY AND
E
COLOGY OF
F
RANCISCANA
,
P
ONTOPORIA
B
LAINVILLEI
(C
ETACEA
,
P
ONTOPORIIDAE
)
Eduardo R. Secchi
Laboratório de Tartarugas e Mamiferos Marinhos, Instituto de Oceanografia (IO-FURG)
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande/FURG Rio Grande - RS, Brazil
A
BSTRACT
In the current chapter, I discuss some aspects of the life history and ecology of the
Franciscana (
Pontoporia blainvillei
). This is a small dolphin which inhabits the coasts of
southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Disappointedly, this species suffers an extensive
loss of individuals each year due to mortality in fishing nets. Therefore, all available
knowledge about the ecology of this species is useful for its conservation.
G
ENERAL
E
XTERNAL
M
ORPHOLOGY
Pontoporia
blainvillei
is a small cetacean with a brownish or ochre skin on the back,
which turns lighter on the flanks and ventral region. The dorsal fin is fairly tall and triangular
with a slightly rounded tip while the flippers are very broad, visibly fingered, paddle-shaped
with curved and irregular trailing edges. The width of the flukes is slightly over one fourth of
the body length (Brownell, 1989) for both adults and juveniles. The rostrum length varies
ontogenetically. It is relatively short in young individuals and extremely slender and
elongated in adults, holding approximately 250 very small and sharp teeth (Bastida et al.,
2007). The neck is flexible, head is small with a bulky melon and small eyes and the
blowhole resembles a median transverse crescent (Figure 1).
edu.secchi@furg.br.
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