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Peale's Dolphin
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Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, is a small dolphin that inhabits the southern tip of South America. It has a small beak, and its coloration is a complex pattern of white, gray and black. It is sometimes mistaken for the dusky dolphin or the hourglass dolphin, which have overlapping ranges. It had been frequently hunted for use as crab bait, but laws against the practice, in addition to the increasingly lower stocks of crab, have reduced the stress on this species.
Peale's dolphins grow to as large as 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) and weigh up to 115 kg (254 lbs). They feed on fish, molluscs, crustaceans, squid and octopus. They may be seen in pods of up to 100 individuals, but are most commonly observed in small pods of 5 to 20. Their coloration is varied, but they generally have a white belly, a gray area going from near the eye to the midpoint of the side, a black back and tail, and a white stripe on the flank.
Peale's dolphins can be found in South America from Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands to as far north as Valparaiso, Chile on the Pacific coast, and the San Jorge Gulf, Argentina on the Atlantic coast. They typically stay close to shore, especially favoring bays and channels that have abundant kelp beds. They are sometimes called Black-chinned dolphins. The IUCN Red List lists them as Data Deficient, and there are no reliable population estimates. However, they are said to be fairly common within their range.
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Picture of a Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, leaping, Falkland Islands, Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 011164 |
Stock photo of an adult Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, bow-riding in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 014847 |
Image of a Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, calf, Falkland Islands, Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 001861 |
Photo of a Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, illustration
Picture #: 010652 |
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Picture of a Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, surfacing, Falkland Islands, Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 011166 |
Stock photo of a Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 011163 |
Image of a Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, leaping, Falkland Islands, Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 011165 |
Photo of an adult Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, bow-riding in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 014846 |
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