The Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), also known as the estuarine dolphin or costero, is a member of the oceanic dolphin family found in the coastal and estuary waters to the north and east of South America and east of Central America. It is reported as far south as southern Brazil and as far north as Nicaragua and possibly Honduras, close to estuaries, inlets and other protected shallow areas, and it tolerates a wide range of temperatures and salinities. It looks like a smaller bottlenose dolphin, up to 2.1 metres long and up to 121 kilograms, with a light to bluish grey back and sides, a light grey underside, a slightly hooked triangular dorsal fin and a well defined beak of moderate length. Groups average about two to six animals. It feeds mainly on a wide variety of bony fish and occasionally on shrimps, cephalopods and crabs, and studies of growth layers suggest it can live more than 40 years. Pierre-Joseph van Bénéden described it in 1864, it was long treated as a form of the tucuxi until genetic work showed the two are separate species, and in 2008 the International Whaling Commission endorsed Guiana dolphin as its English name.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Conservation Status Body Size Band Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Guiana dolphin (Wikipedia)
In Biome
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Guiana dolphin (Wikipedia)DistributionQuote, Distribution
It has been reported as far south as southern Brazil and north as far as Nicaragua and possibly Honduras.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Guiana dolphin (Wikipedia)Distribution, NicaraguaQuote, Distribution, Nicaragua
It has been reported as far south as southern Brazil and north as far as Nicaragua and possibly Honduras.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Guiana dolphin (Wikipedia)LeadQuote, Lead
is a dolphin found in the coastal and estuary waters to the north and east of South America
Sources
1. Guiana dolphin (Wikipedia)
Lead
is a dolphin found in the coastal and estuary waters to the north and east of South America
Distribution
The Guiana dolphin is found close to estuaries, inlets and other protected shallow-water areas around the eastern and northern South American coast.
Diet and foraging
Guiana dolphins feed mainly on a wide variety of bony fish and occasionally on shrimps, cephalopods, and crabs.
Conservation
Entanglement in gill nets, seine nets, and shrimp traps is responsible for the death of many animals each year.
Conservation, Guanabara Bay
The bays around Rio de Janeiro are known to be polluted with industrial waste and sewage, a possible cause of this population
Description
it is typically smaller, at only up to 2.1 m (6.9 ft) in length
Diet and foraging, lifespan
Studies of growth layers suggest the species can live more than 40 years.
Child Taxon Of: Delphinidae, Lead, family
It is a member of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae).
In Group: Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises), Lead, dolphin
is a dolphin found in the coastal and estuary waters to the north and east of South America
View the Source2. GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Sotalia guianensis in the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)Descriptions
CITES Appendix I.
Descriptions, conservation status
Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.
Descriptions, relationship to people
The Guiana Dolphin is occasionally caught on the coast of Brazil as direct catch for use as bait in shark and shrimp fisheries and possibly for human consumption.
View the Source 3. SeaLifeBase: Sotalia guianensis (SeaLifeBase)
SeaLifeBaseIUCN Red List Status
Near Threatened (NT) (A2d+3d+4d); Date assessed: 12 October 2017
CITES status
Appendix I: International trade banned
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