Chilenean Dolphin

Scientific Name Cephalorhyncus eutropi
English Common Name Chilean / Black dolphin
Taxonomy Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Sub-order: Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Cephalorhynchus
Species: eutropia

World Distribution The Chilean dolphin is the only cetacean species endemic to Chile; restricted to the cold, shallow coastal waters. Being a coastal species, it inhabits sheltered bays, channels, fjords and exposed coasts
Morphology Chilean dolphins are very poorly known and basic knowledge about its biology and ecology are still very limited. They have a small stocky body and have a relatively large rounded dorsal fin, a conical shaped head with sloping forehead, and an indistinct beak with white ‘lips’. They have a dark grey body that may seem brown at sea, with a white belly, a white throat and a small white patch behind each flipper. Chilean dolphins have between 56 and 68 teeth in their upper jaw and between 58 and 66 teeth in their lower jaw. Their length when they are born is unknown as well as their weight. The adults are quite small growing to only 1.2 - 1.7 meters and weighing between 30 and 65 kg. Their diet includes fish, squid and crustaceans.

There is very little behavioural information available for Chilean dolphins however they are not thought to be a gregarious species. Known to bow-ride in the northern part of their range and actively avoid boats in the southern part of their range, Chilean dolphins are generally found in small groups although several hundred have been seen at one time.

Threats The primary threats are incidental catch in local fisheries and the progressive destruction of potentially critical areas, mainly due to the rapid expansion of aquaculture activities. As with Dusky and Commerson’s dolphins, Chilean dolphins are illegally hunted to provide bait for use in traps in the King Crab fishery.
Status No abundance estimate for the species is available
Conservation Activities CMS Appendix II
IUCN – Data deficient