Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

Chilean dolphins live in the coastal waters of Chile, ranging from near Valparaiso (33°S) to south of Navarino Island (55°15'S) and as far south as Tierra del Fuego. The farthest east that this dolphin has been sighted is near the eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan. (Brownell and Donovan, 1988; Grzimek, 2004; Reeves, et al., 2002; Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

• Biogeographic Regions
• pacific ocean
  • native

Habitat

On Chile's convoluted coastline, Chilean dolphins prefer to live near areas of particularly strong tidal flow above a steep dropping shelf. They are most commonly found in channels and open coasts and bays. They are also found in areas of tide rips at the mouth of fjords. They prefer cold, shallow water at depths of 3 to 15 m. They may also enter rivers and estuaries and can be seen as far as 5 kilometers upstream. (Brownell and Donovan, 1988; Grzimek, 2004; Reeves, et al., 2002; Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

• Habitat Regions
• temperate
• saltwater or marine

• Aquatic Biomes
• rivers and streams
• coastal
• brackish water

• Range depth

  20 to 3 m

  65.62 to 9.84 ft

Physical Description

Resembling fellow Cephalorhynchus species, Chilean dolphins are generally described as small and chunky with lengths of about 1.65 m for both males and females. These dolphins weigh approximately 57 kg, females may be slightly larger than males. Chilean dolphins have a stout, torpedo-like shape and can have a girth of up to two-thirds of their length. The head is conical in shape and lacks a beak and melon. The mouth line is fairly long and a groove on the sides of the face is present. The eyes are positioned just behind the mouth. The dorsal fin is low and triangular, with a long leading edge that is almost S-shaped. The flippers are rounded and medium sized. Some animals may also have serrations occurring along the edge of the flippers. Chilean dolphins are dark except for three areas of white on the throat, behind the flippers, and around the anal area. The rest of the body is a complex mix of dark tones. Areas of dark gray cover the flippers, flukes, back and dorsal fin whereas lighter gray tones cover the head and sides. The blowhole may be pale gray. (Brownell and Donovan, 1988; Jefferson, et al., 2007; Macdonald, 1984; Reeves, et al., 2002; Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

Chilean dolphins overlap in habitat with Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii). They can be distinguished by the lack of a conspicuous white area on the sides and back. Burmeister's porpoises (Phocoena spinipinnis) may also be confused, but they have more slender dorsal fins that are positioned farther back and a lower profile and more pointed peak. (Brownell and Donovan, 1988; Jefferson, et al., 2007; Macdonald, 1984; Reeves, et al., 2002; Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• homoiothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• female larger

• Range mass

  25 to 75 kg

  55.07 to 165.20 lb

• Average length

  1.6 m

  5.25 ft

Reproduction

Little is known about the mating system and mating behavior of this species.

Chilean dolphins mate in the early winter and bear young in the spring. Females have one calf every two years. Sexual maturity is reached in 5 to 9 years. Other aspects of Chilean dolphin reproduction are not well understood. (Grzimek, 2004)

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous
• seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual
• viviparous

• Breeding interval

  Females generally have one calf every two years.

• Breeding season

  Chilean dolphins breed in the winter.

• Average number of offspring

  1

• Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

  5 to 9 years

• Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

  5 to 9 years

Female Chilean dolphins invest heavily in young through gestation and lactation. Like other dolphins, young are likely to remain with their parents for long periods during which they learn complex social behaviors, navigation, and foraging.

• Parental Investment
• precocial
• pre-fertilization
  • provisioning
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-hatching/birth
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-independence
  • protecting
    • female

Lifespan/Longevity

Although longevity has not been determined in Chilean dolphins, the related species, Commerson's dolphins and Hector's dolphins have a lifespan of up to 20 years. (Brownell and Donovan, 1988)

Behavior

Chilean dolphins are usually found in small groups of 2 to 3, although they can be found in groups of up to 20 individuals. Rarely, schools of 20 to 50 individuals have been sighted, particularly in the northern part of their range. In the southern portions of their range, they tend to avoid boats. All reports indicate that these dolphins are extremely shy and difficult to approach. Chilean dolphins have exhibited epimeletic behavior, in which healthy individuals provide assistance to injured individuals. A sub adult female, shot through the heart and aorta, was accompanied by several other animals during the time the animal was brought aboard. The animals then quickly fled after the female was brought out of the water. In contrast, an adult male that was shot was observed to be immediately abandoned by its group. (Brownell and Donovan, 1988; Macdonald, 1984; Reeves, et al., 2002; Ridgway and Harrison, 1994; Wilson and Reeder, 1993)

• Key Behaviors
• natatorial
• motile
• sedentary
• social

Home Range

Little is known about the home range and migration patterns of this species, although they are thought to be relatively sedentary.

Communication and Perception

Chilean dolphins produce "cries" consisting of rapid pulses at very low levels. Recording equipment at the time was not sufficient to capture the full extent of their sounds. They use echolocation to navigate their environment. (Brownell and Donovan, 1988; Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

• Communication Channels
• visual
• acoustic

• Perception Channels
• visual
• tactile
• acoustic
• ultrasound
• echolocation
• chemical

Food Habits

Chilean dolphins commonly feed on small schooling fish, such as sardines (Strangomera bentincki), squid (Loligo gahi, for example), and crustaceans (such as Munida subrugosa). Chilean dolphins which have been observed near salmon hatcheries may eat young, newly released salmon. (Reeves, et al., 2002; Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

• Primary Diet
• carnivore
  • piscivore
  • eats non-insect arthropods
  • molluscivore

• Animal Foods
• fish
• mollusks
• aquatic crustaceans

Predation

Chilean dolphins are agile and fast swimmers. Natural predation on Chilean dolphins has not been observed, but they may fall prey to sharks and killer whales. (Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

Ecosystem Roles

It is unknown how Chilean dolphins impact their ecosystem. (Ridgway and Harrison, 1994)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Chilean dolphins have been hunted in the past for food and as bait for lucrative crab farming. Fisherman use the meat from the dolphins as bait to catch king crabs although this practice is now illegal. (IUCN, 2008; Reeves, et al., 2002)

• Positive Impacts
• food

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse effects of Chilean dolphins on humans. (IUCN, 2008)

Conservation Status

Chilean dolphins are listed as near threatened by the IUCN. Exact populations are difficult to measure but populations are considered in decline. Chilean dolphins have been hunted for food and as crab bait for generations. These dolphins are also accidentally caught in coastal gillnets. They also suffer from habitat encroachment by coastal salmon farming. More accurate information on Chilean dolphin populations and the threats they face is needed to formulate a conservation plan. (IUCN, 2008; Reeves, et al., 2002)

• IUCN Red List

  Near Threatened
  More information

• IUCN Red List

  Near Threatened
  More information

• US Federal List

  No special status

• CITES

  Appendix II

Other Comments

Extensive research on Chilean dolphins has yet to be conducted. They were previously called "black dolphins" because specimens that had died were darkened from exposure to air and sun. Animals seen at a distance in the water appeared black as well. This was largely unhelpful and ill-chosen as the species is shades of dark and light gray as opposed to black. (IUCN, 2008; Jefferson, et al., 2007; Reeves, et al., 2002; IUCN, 2008; Jefferson, et al., 2007; Reeves, et al., 2002; IUCN, 2008; Jefferson, et al., 2007; Reeves, et al., 2002)

Contributors

Bob Fan (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor, instructor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

References

Brownell, R., G. Donovan. 1988. Biology of the Genus Cephalorhynchus. Reports of the International Whaling Commision, Special Issue 9: 197-279.

Grzimek, B. 2004. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale.

IUCN, 2008. "IUCN 2008 Red List" (On-line). IUCN. Accessed April 04, 2009 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/4160.

Jefferson, T., M. Webber, R. Pitman. 2007. Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification. New York: Academic Press.

Macdonald, D. 1984. The Encyclopedia of mammals. New York: Oxford University Press.

Reeves, R., B. Stewart, P. Clapham, J. Powell. 2002. Sea Mammals of the World. London: A&C Black Publishers.

Ridgway, S., R. Harrison. 1994. Handbook of Marine Mammals. London: Academic Press.

Wilson, D., D. Reeder. 1993. Mammal Species of the World; a taxonomic and geographic reference. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press..