Species Profile: The La Plata Dolphin

The La Plata Dolphin is one small but interesting looking animal; it has the longest beak relative to size of any cetacean.

The La Plata dolphin, or Franciscana, is a river dolphin native to parts of the coastal Atlantic waters of southeast South America. This dolphin is the only member of its family Pontoporiidae.

Strangely, although it’s a river dolphin, it’s the only one of this group that also lives in the ocean and saltwater estuaries. That’s quite unlike other river species like the Amazon River dolphin that inhabits freshwater exclusively.

La Plata dolphins are one of the smallest dolphins worldwide. In fact, they could easily hold the title for “world’s smallest dolphin” just that a few individuals vary in size.

Another major distinguishing feature of this intriguing creature is its exceptionally long beak. The La Plata dolphin has the longest beak relative to its body size of any cetacean. Their bodies are a gray/brown shade with a lighter colored underside. But juveniles are browner than adults and typically have seven strands of hairs on their upper jaw.

Unlike most other dolphins, these ones are somewhat solitary and generally avoid boats and humans. They are also not prone to acrobatic displays at sea like the bottlenose dolphins. Rather, they lie quietly under the water surface with just their long beaks peeking out of the water surface.

As a result, they are a bit hard to spot.

The IUCN lists this cetacean as a Vulnerable species.

1) Scientific Name

Pontoporia Blainvillei

2) Scientific Classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Family: Pontoporiidae
• Genus: Pontoporia
• Species: Pontoporia Blainvillei

3) Life Expectancy

About 20 years.

4) Average/Maximum Length

Females of this species tend to grow faster than males. So, adult females can grow up to around 1.8 meters (6 feet) long and males 1.6 meters (5.3 feet).

5) Average/Maximum Weight

Averagely just  50 kg (110 lbs).

6) Maximum Swimming Speed

It is not common to spot these dolphins and their movements are slow and quiet.

7) Interaction With/Danger To Humans

Like other river dolphins, the La Plata dolphin suffers the effects of reckless human activities that result in habitat destruction and water pollution.

Several specimens of these dolphins have been found with plastic debris and synthetic material clogging their stomachs.

This dolphin is harmless to humans.

90 percent of La Plata dolphin population in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro  was lost in just three decades due to adverse human activities in their vicinity.

8) Reproduction Details

Yet another trait distinguishes La Platas from other dolphins is that researchers believe it is monogamous and sticks to one mating partner. They also reach sexual maturity at a relatively young age.

Hence, females can breed successfully from age three and males from age two!

However, these ages may vary slightly depending on geographical location.

Mating season lasts from  January and February every year with females producing just one calf. The calves spend a lot of time with their mothers learning to survive and feeding on milk till they are weaned at between 8 and 9 months.

9) Diet/Hunting Pattern of the La Plata Dolphin

La Plata dolphins are bottom feeders that hunt on the river or sea floor. They can be seen hunting in groups and they feed on up 24 different types of fish and octopus, squid and shrimp.

Natural predators of this dolphin include the killer whale (orca) and different species of sharks.

10) Alternative Names

• Franciscana
• Toninha (Brazil)
• La Plata River Dolphin

11) Population And Conservation Status

Of all the threats to this animal, the most alarming is the increasing incidents of bycatch and death in gillnets. At least 500 to 800 of these dolphins die this way every year.

Scientists from Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina are calling for international assistance to save these dolphins as they are most affected in these three countries.

The IUCN lists the La Plata Dolphin as a Vulnerable species.

 Most threats to the La Plata dolphin are directly related to human activities and almost 1,000 of these dolphins die every year unnecessarily as a result.

12) Ancestry And History

The La Plata dolphin is unique in the sense that it has its own genus and family, the Pontoporiidae.

Researchers Paul Gervais and Alcide d’Orbigny first named it back in 1844.

13) Distribution And Habitat

The La Plata dolphin is endemic in the coastal Atlantic waters of the southeastern tip of the South American continent.

You can find it in places like the Río de la Plata estuary, near Ubatuba (also in Brazil), Uruguay, and parts of Argentina.