Southernmost records of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus |
| |
Authors: | R Natalie P Goodall M Constanza Marchesi Lida E Pimper Natalia Dellabianca Luis G Benegas M??nica A Torres Luciana Riccialdelli |
| |
Institution: | (1) Museo Acatush?n de Aves y Mam?feros Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina;(2) Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cient?ficas (CADIC), B. Houssay 200, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina;(3) Departamento de Ecolog?a, Gen?tica y Evoluci?n, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente G?iraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Capital Federal, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina;(4) Museo de la Ciudad Virginia Choquintel, 9420 R?o Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina |
| |
Abstract: | Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) are cosmopolitan animals widely distributed in waters of both hemispheres. The taxonomy of Tursiops has long been controversial, with over 20 specific names being published, and subspecies and inshore/offshore forms being
proposed. In the southwestern South Atlantic, subspecies T. truncatus truncatus and T. truncatus gephyreus were proposed for specimens along the coasts of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Sightings of bottlenose dolphins are common
along the coast of Argentina as far south as the Province of Chubut (ca. 46°S). Here, we summarize and discuss the southernmost records of bottlenose dolphins. We cannot make inferences about the
species or subspecies to which these animals belong given the small number of specimens. Future studies of external measurements,
pigmentation, DNA, and isotopes from both sides of the continent should help clarify the situation off southern South America.
Furthermore, research is needed to explore a possible link between an effect of general global warming and the Tursiops specimens found this far south. The sighting and specimens described here, at 53°S–nearly 55°S, are the southernmost records
for the genus and extend the range of the species in the southern South Atlantic. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|