The hourglass dolphin (Cephalorhynchus cruciger) is a small, fast swimming dolphin of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters with a circumpolar distribution, generally found between about 45 and 67 degrees south, though it has been seen as far north as 33 to 36 degrees south in the South Atlantic and off Chile. It is colored black above and white on the belly, with two white patches on each flank, one near the beak and flipper and one toward the tail, joined by a thin white line to form the hourglass pattern that gives the species its name; its scientific name cruciger means cross carrier, describing the cross like pattern seen from above. Adult males measure about 1.8 meters and weigh over 90 kilograms, while juvenile females range from 1.6 to 1.8 meters and 70 to 90 kilograms, and the species prefers cold water between about minus 0.3 and 7 degrees Celsius, moving farther south in the austral summer and north in winter. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Scientific NameLagenorhynchus cruciger 4 Conservation Status Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Hourglass dolphin (Wikidata)
In Biome
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Lagenorhynchus cruciger
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. GBIF Species API
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Lagenorhynchus cruciger
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES Appendix II
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (hunted-fished)
Hourglass dolphins are not commercially harvested, but some are taken annually along with Dusky Dolphins, to be used as crab bait by local fishermen in Chile
In Biome: Open Ocean, Habitat Regions, biome: pelagic
pelagic pelagic
View the Source 4. Hourglass dolphin (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q301018 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Child Taxon Of: Lagenorhynchus, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q837606 (Lagenorhynchus)
View the Source 5. Hourglass dolphin (Wikipedia)
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