Facts About La Plata Dolphins
The La Plata dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is found off the south-eastern Atlantic shores of South America. It was first described in 1844 from a specimen found in the Rio La Plata estuary from which it gets its name. It is also known as the Franciscana, possibly from the Order of Franciscan monks, who were early pioneers from Europe to settle in Uruguay. In some places it is also called the Cachimbo and Toninha in different areas of its range.
Habitat and range
Although it is classed as one of the river dolphins it lives in the sea and saltwater estuaries rather than freshwater rivers. It is quite common in the La Plata estuary as well as some other estuaries preferring to stay in the salt water of the sea rather than swim up the rivers.
Its range extends from Itaunas in Espiritu Santo, Brazil, southwards to Gotto San Matias, Patagonia, in Argentina. It seems to prefer water less than 30 metres deep and generally keeps within 60 metres of the shoreline.
Description
The La Plata can grow to around 1.8 metres in length and weigh around 55 kilograms. It has a small body which is brown on the back and lighter underneath. It does not have distinctive color markings, but La Plata dolphins living in northern areas of their range are generally greyer than those in the south, which are generally browner.
Although it is one of the smallest of the cetaceans its distinguishing feature is its long, slender beak, which in proportion to its body is longer than that of any other dolphin. The dorsal fin is found just behind the centre of the back and is rounded and slightly triangular.
Diet
The La Plata dolphin’s main diet consists of fish, supplemented by squid, octopus and crustaceans, which it hunts near, or on the sea bed. It uses its long beak to probe for prey amid seaweed and plants growing on the sea floor.
Breeding
La Plata dolphins living in the wild are thought to have a lifespan of about 16 years, reaching sexual maturity at about 3 years of age. The female calves every two years after a gestation of 10-11 months. The calf is thought to start taking solid food when it is about 3 months old.
The La Plata dolphin’s coloring gives good camouflage making it difficult to see in the water. It is less demonstrative than other dolphin species so it does not catch the eye as they often do. Consequently, not very much is known about its habits and lifestyle.
Threats
Its greatest threat is getting accidentally caught in fishing nets and drowning. Many La Plata dolphins are killed every year in this way. It is also at risk from other man-made threats such as pollution. The IUCN class the La Plata dolphin as ‘Vulnerable’ on its Red List of Threatened Species.
Although it is classed as one of the river dolphins it lives in the sea and saltwater estuaries rather than freshwater rivers. It is quite common in the La Plata estuary as well as some other estuaries preferring to stay in the salt water of the sea rather than swim up the rivers.
Its range extends from Itaunas in Espiritu Santo, Brazil, southwards to Gotto San Matias, Patagonia, in Argentina. It seems to prefer water less than 30 metres deep and generally keeps within 60 metres of the shoreline.
Description
The La Plata can grow to around 1.8 metres in length and weigh around 55 kilograms. It has a small body which is brown on the back and lighter underneath. It does not have distinctive color markings, but La Plata dolphins living in northern areas of their range are generally greyer than those in the south, which are generally browner.
Although it is one of the smallest of the cetaceans its distinguishing feature is its long, slender beak, which in proportion to its body is longer than that of any other dolphin. The dorsal fin is found just behind the centre of the back and is rounded and slightly triangular.
Diet
The La Plata dolphin’s main diet consists of fish, supplemented by squid, octopus and crustaceans, which it hunts near, or on the sea bed. It uses its long beak to probe for prey amid seaweed and plants growing on the sea floor.
Breeding
La Plata dolphins living in the wild are thought to have a lifespan of about 16 years, reaching sexual maturity at about 3 years of age. The female calves every two years after a gestation of 10-11 months. The calf is thought to start taking solid food when it is about 3 months old.
The La Plata dolphin’s coloring gives good camouflage making it difficult to see in the water. It is less demonstrative than other dolphin species so it does not catch the eye as they often do. Consequently, not very much is known about its habits and lifestyle.
Threats
Its greatest threat is getting accidentally caught in fishing nets and drowning. Many La Plata dolphins are killed every year in this way. It is also at risk from other man-made threats such as pollution. The IUCN class the La Plata dolphin as ‘Vulnerable’ on its Red List of Threatened Species.