commerson's dolphin facts

At two months of age, it begins to eat solid foods with the help of its mother and, after nine months is weaned.The male reaches sexual maturity between six and nine years old while the female is mature at the age of 5-9 years.The color pattern of the Commerson’s dolphin confuses most of its predators, that is, it functions as camouflage.The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, on its Red List, has classified this species as “Data Deficient” which does not mean that this species is out of danger, but that this organization does not have enough information to assess its conservation status.Their greatest threats are human activities, which contribute to the reduction of their populations and affect their natural habitat.The specific anthropogenic activities that affect this dolphin are:– Direct catch (to obtain its meat and oil).This dolphin is in Appendix II of CITES, which houses potentially endangered species whose catch require regulation. According to IUCN, the Commerson's dolphin is abundant and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Measuring in at less than 6 ft. Commerson’s dolphin is small species of,These dolphins are known for their very distinct color pattern and very.At times they can be seen leaping out of the water and performing various stunts as well as swimming up to boats in order to observe what’s going on.This article will provide insights into the appearance, diet, social structure, habitat, breeding habits and potential threats that affect the lives of these wonderful marine mammals.Commerson’s dolphin is one of the smallest known dolphins in existence today.These dolphins are believed to reach an average length of 3 – 5 ft. long when fully matured.Although records of their average weight remain unknown it is assumed that adults may have an average weight of around 50 – 100 lbs.They have stocky bodies and a triangular dorsal fin where the back begins to taper down.Commeson’s dolphins is distinguished by its white and black skin tone as the head, dorsal fin and flukes are black and most of the rest of the body is white.They also have a black spot on their belly with the males being in the shape of a tear drop and the females being more circular in nature.These dolphins are known to have a dieting consisting of various.Due to their small stature these dolphins primarily inhibit coastal waters and consume prey that live in and around their coastal environment.Night time hunting likely involves the use of echolocation to search for prey, coordinate hunting parties and navigate the ocean.When searching for prey most hunting takes place near the sea bed and they hunt opportunistically for food .Commerson’s dolphin is known to swim both right side up and upside down.While the reason for this is unknown it is suggested that this may help them better locate food and keep a look out for potential predators as it increases the dolphins ability to visually scan the area.These dolphins have been found living off the southern coast of south america around the Falkland and south Georgia islands.They are also known to inhibit South American waters around the Western Pacific and Southern Atlantic oceans in coastal waters as well as a group found in the Kerguelen Islands in the south Indian ocean.Not much is known about the migration patterns of these dolphins.They can be seen throughout the year, however some reporting suggests that dolphin pods in some areas are largest during heavy prey season when large abundances of food are available.During the less abundant months the pods may be more dispersed as they spread out to search for sources of food.They are also known to bow ride and swim upside down.When traveling together Commerson’s dolphin can swim in groups of anywhere from 2 – 100 dolphins.Communication consists of various high-pitched clicks and whistles that allow them to.They communicate in such high frequencies that they can’t be heard by the human ear.The average gestation period (pregnancy period) for Commerson’s dolphin is 11 – 12 months.After birth the mother cares for her child until it is able to hunt and survive on its own.Nursing involves providing the baby dolphin with milk and protection.Most children are waned off of milk after about 9 months.After about a year these dolphins reach full size, however sexual maturity for Commerson’s dolphins is assumed to occur between the ages of 6 – 10.Commerson’s dolphin has been known to face threats from fishermen and poachers looking to use their meat for crab bait.These dolphins are also known to have been hunted for sport.Some dolphins that have been studied have been found to contain low levels of pollution suggesting that contamination may also play a role in the potential life threatening causes these dolphins face.Tourism and bycatch are also listed as potential threats since boat strikes and fishing nets can interfere with their natural habitat.A number of Commerson’s dolphins have been held in captivity and appear to do relatively well adjusting to their habitat.In fact several dolphins are known to perform at marine parks and can be seen leaping and flipping out of the water with instructions from their trainers.We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It is one of the four members of the genus Cephalorhynchus, a group of dolphins very attractive because of the coloring patterns of their skin.It was named “Commerson” in honor of Philibert Commerson, the French naturalist who described this dolphin for the first time. For this cetacean, it is not a problem to swim in tight bodies of water or high currents.The diet of the Commerson’s dolphin is composed of benthic and pelagic prey. The Kerguelen population with up to 86kg compared with their South American cousins at 45kg.Commerson’s dolphins are generally found in shallow coastal waters in small groups of fewer than ten individuals but they can gather seasonally in groups of up to 100 for feeding and breeding.Commerson's dolphins are fast, active swimmers. It is present near the coasts of these countries and around the Falkland Islands, the Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego, and near the Patagonia. When they are feeding in tidal areas in front of small rivers, in kelp forests and in waters influenced by river discharge, they are more typically alone or in small groups.The Kerguelen subspecies is restricted in range and is believed to be very small in number and relatively vulnerable to any human threats.In the past Commerson’s dolphins were hunted and used as crab bait by Chilean and Argentinean fishermen, although this practice is thought to be less prevalent now.By supporting WDC, you can help Commerson's dolphins to live safe and free. Commerson’s dolphins show typical dolphin curiosity towards humans and will readily approach boats to bowride and wake ride. Dorsal fin has a straight leading edge ending in a curve. Find quick information and fun facts with these 1-page easy resources about animals from A to Z.

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