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Lissodelphis peronii (Southern Right Whale Dolphin)

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Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Scientific Name Lissodelphis peronii
Taxonomic Rank Species
Original Description (Lacépède, 1804)
Scientific Synonyms (since 1950)
None.
Common Name
Southern Right Whale Dolphin
All Common Names English: southern right-whale dolphin, southern right whale dolphin
Taxonomic Parents Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Chordata
    Subphylum: Vertebrata
      Class: Mammalia
        Subclass: Theria
          Infraclass: Eutheria
            Order: Cetacea
              Suborder: Odontoceti
                Family: Delphinidae
                  Genus: Lissodelphis
Taxonomic Children
Taxonomic # 180455
Taxonomic data is courtesy of the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Physical Description / Field Identification
Southern right whale dolphins, along with their Northern Hemisphere counterparts, are the most slender of all cetaceans. The body shape is essentially the same as in the northern right whale dolphin, with a short, well-demarcated snout, small recurved flippers, extremely shallow (top to bottom) tail stock, small flukes with a concave trailing edge, and no hint of a dorsal fin or ridge.

The white coloration of the ventral area extends well up the sides, the sharp line demarcating black above and white below runs from the tail stock forward, dips down to the flipper insertion, and then sweeps back up to cross the melon between the blowhole and snout crease. The flippers are generally white, but the trailing edge has a black band. The flukes are white below, and dark gray, fading to white, on the leading edge.

The mouth is lined with 44-49 sharp, pointed teeth in each row.

These dolphins reach lengths of at least 3 m and weights of 116 kg. Length at birth is probably about 1 m.

Can be Confused With
The unique body shape of this species should make it difficult to confuse with other species.

Distribution
Southern right whale dolphins are found only in cool temperate to subantarctic waters of the Southern Hemisphere. The southern limit appears generally to be bounded by the Antarctic Convergence. The range extends furthest north along the west coast of continents, due to the cold counterclockwise currents of the Southern Hemisphere. The northernmost record is at 12°S, in northern Peru. This is an open-ocean species, coming close to shore only in deep water coastal areas.
Links to Distribution Map at Sea Around Us Project

Map of OBIS-SEAMAP Data Points

Existing observations across multiple datasets within OBIS-SEAMAP are indicated with red points.
Species distributions (pink background polygon if present) were digitized by Kristin Kaschner as part of the Sea Around Us Project predominantly from Jefferson et al (1993).

Reference
Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood, and M.A. Webber. 1993. FAO species identification guide. Marine mammals of the world. Rome, FAO. 1993.320. p. 587 figs.

Ecology and Behavior
Large schools are characteristic of the southern right whale dolphin. Some estimates of group size range to over 1,000 animals. Associations with other marine mammal species are common, especially dusky dolphins and pilot whales. Like their northern cousins, dolphins of this species are active, energetic swimmers, often coming out of the water in clean low-angle leaps as they move at speed. Fluke slaps and other aerial displays are not uncommon. Southern right whale dolphins bowride occasionally.

Almost nothing is known of this species' reproductive biology.

Feeding and Prey
A variety of fish and squid have been reported as prey; lanternfish (myctophids) are especially common.

Threats and Status
Southern right whale dolphins have been taken in recent years in Peru and Chile for crab bait and for human consumption. The only incidental catch of any magniude that is known is in the swordfish gillnet fishery off Chile. Data Deficient (IUCN); Not Listed (ESA).

References

JEFFERSON, T. A., M. W. NEWCOMER, S. LEATHERWOOD, AND K. VAN WAEREBEEK. 1994. Right whale dolphins Lissodelphis borealis (Peale, 1848) and Lissodelphis peronii (Lacepede, 1804). Pp. 335-362 in S. H. Ridgway and R. Harrison, eds. Handbook of marine mammals, Volume 5 The first book of dolphins. Academic Press.

LIPSKY, J. D. 2002. Right whale dolphins Lissodelphis borealis and L. peronii. Pp. 1030-1033 in W. F. Perrin, B. Würsig and J. G. M. Thewissen, eds. Encyclopedia of marine mammals. Academic Press.

NEWCOMER, M. W., T. A. JEFFERSON, AND R. L. BROWNELL JR.. 1996. Lissodelphis peronii. Mammalian Species 531:1-5.

PEDDEMORS, V. M. 1999. Delphinids of southern Africa a review of their distribution, status and life history. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 1:157-165.

ROSE, B., AND A. I. L. PAYNE. 1991. Occurrence and behavior of the southern right whale dolphin Lissodelphis peronii off Namibia. Marine Mammal Science 7:25-34.

VAN WAEREBEEK, K., J. CANTO, J. GONZALES, J. OPORTO, AND J. L. BRITO. 1991. Southern right whale dolphins, Lissodelphis peronii off the Pacific coast of South America. Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde 56:284-295.

Relevant OBIS-SEAMAP Datasets (# sets: 0)

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