Fairly acrobatic movers, Chilean dolphins have perfected their own circular or zigzag-style swimming motion that they use to herd fish. The scientific community is now universally agreed in naming the dolphin Chilean on account of its distribution along the coast of the country.Ribeiro, S., Viddi, F. A., Cordeiro, J. K., & Freitas, T. R. O.

Most of the few individual specimens studied by scientists were either washed-up individuals whose skin had darkened due to exposure to air or live specimens seen at sea but only at a distance (and so appeared darker than they were).

This was later agreed to be a poor choice of name.

The dorsal fin is low and rounded, and behind their small, curved flippers are white patches. These characteristics often make for its incorrect identification as a porpoise. Most sightings have been near shore, and therefore it is considered a … Spotted in the Strait of Magellan and channels of Tierra del Fuego, they are found in some pretty spectacular locations.By supporting WDC, you can help chilean dolphins to live safe and free. Preferring areas with high tidal ranges, Chilean dolphins feel at home in the mouths of fjords and bays, often residing in estuaries, channels and sometimes entering rivers too. Physical description. Habitat and distribution: Chilean dolphins inhabit the cold and shallow coastal waters of Chile from Valparaiso (33°S), to Isla Navarino and Cape Horn (55°S).

The Chilean dolphin (also referred to as the black dolphin or white bellied dolphin) is a small species of.Unlike other dolphins this species tends to exhibit less socially active behavior than other species of dolphin and are more likely to stay distant or flee when coming into contact with humans.In many cases they may be spotted traveling in small pod sizes of 2 – 10 dolphin, but may aggregate into larger clans during certain social events.The Chilean dolphin is a small species of dolphin that averages 5 – 6 ft in length when fully matured.Due to their small stature and thickly shaped body these dolphins are sometimes confused as.In terms of color they are a mixture of varying shades of dark gray’s with a whitish coloring around their flippers and lower body.These dolphins also have a distinctively short beak, rounded flippers and a rounded dorsal fin, which makes it easier to identify them when compared to other species of dolphin.Chilean dolphins are known to maintain a diet consisting of.They have also been spotted consuming green algae.Unfortunately not much is known about this species social structure.These dolphins can often be found traveling in small pods containing less than 10 dolphins, however during certain social gatherings pod sizes can increase to 50 dolphins or more.Unlike other species of dolphin the Chilean dolphin appears to exhibit less socially prominent behaviors and when approached by humans they have been known to flee or become very causes rather than interested in social interactions.The average gestation period for the Chilean dolphin is estimated to be between 10 – 12 months.After birth the mother feeds her young with milk, which the child suckles from her nipple until the child is able to consume solid foods and hunt on its own.During this period baby dolphins also learn how to communicate and survive in the ocean by observing their parents and other dolphins.Female dolphins are known to bare a single offspring once every 2 – 3 years while they are fertile.These dolphins sexually mature between the ages of 5 – 10 at which point they can begin bearing offspring of their own.While not much is known about this species lifespan it is estimated that the Chilean dolphin may have a lifespan of around 20 years.Chilean dolphins tend to prefer living in cold coastal waters and can be found swimming in South America.Some of the areas Chilean dolphins are known to inhibit include Argentina, Cape Horn, Chile and Valparaiso.Chilean dolphins are known to face threats from dolphin hunters looking to use their meat for crab bait.It is also believed that they may be hunted for human consumption as other species of dolphin have been.We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

Scientific name: Cephalorhynchus eutropia . A beautiful medley of shades and tones, the Chilean dolphin’s small, stocky body is an artist’s palate. The remainder of the body is a mix of greys. The Chilean dolphin is a small species of dolphin that averages 5 – 6 ft in length when fully matured. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 87(1), 119–128. The throat, underside, and the closest part of the flippers to the body are white.

Size: Length: 1.67 - 1.70 m . As more specimens were studied, it became clear that the back of the dolphin was in fact a mixture of grey colours and that its underside was white. The dolphin is only found off the coast of Chile; it is commonly referred to in the country as tonina. The dorsal fin and flippers are small in proportion to body size in comparison with other dolphins. The Chilean dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia), also known as the black dolphin, is one of four dolphins in the genus Cephalorhynchus.The dolphin is only found off the coast of Chile; it is commonly referred to in the country as tonina.. The dorsal fin and flippers are small in proportion to body size in comparison with other dolphins. Limiting their natural range and in the path of relentless boat traffic, survival for these unique beings is a daily struggle.Chilean dolphins enjoy a diet of fish (including sardines, anchovies and young salmon), squid and crustaceans.As you probably picked up from their name, Chilean dolphins are endemic to the coastal waters of Chile. These characteristics often make for its incorrect identification as a porpoise. Underneath, Chilean dolphins have a white belly with grey markings around the genital slit, varying between males and females.There is still a lot to be learned about Chilean dolphins. The remainder of the body is a mix of greys. The Chilean dolphin is small at around 1.7 m (5.6 ft) in length, with a blunt head. Fine-scale habitat selection of Chilean dolphins (cephalorhynchus eutropia): Interactions with aquaculture activities in southern chiloe island, chile.