One of the 17 dolphins on WAnimals
Mammals · Artiodactyla · Delphinidae
Chilean Dolphin
Cephalorhynchus eutropia
It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary
The Chilean dolphin, also called the tonina or black dolphin, is the only cetacean endemic to Chile and one of the smallest dolphins in the world. It is stocky, with a rounded dorsal fin and dark grey colouring with a white belly. It lives in small groups, usually of two to ten animals, closely tied to the coast: it prefers the turbulent water at river mouths and the strong-current areas of the Patagonian channels. Accidental capture in nets and salmon farming are its main threats.
Weight
30 kg – 60 kg
Size
1.2 m – 1.7 m
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Fun facts
- It is the only cetacean whose distribution lies entirely within the waters of a single country.
- For decades it was caught as bait for southern king crab traps in southern Chile, a practice banned in 1995.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- Shallow coastal waters, fjords, channels and estuaries of southern Chile
- Litter / clutch size
- 1
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalorhynchus_eutropia
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Chilean Dolphin — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Commerson's Dolphin
Cephalorhynchus commersonii
Peale's Dolphin
Lagenorhynchus australis
False Killer Whale
Pseudorca crassidens
Striped Dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba
Risso's Dolphin
Grampus griseus
EndangeredKiller Whale
Orcinus orca
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