Phocoena spinipinnis
The Burmeister's Porpoise is the only cetacean specie that
belongs to the Phocoenidae Family and exclusively inhabits
shallow and temperate waters in the South American coasts,
being endemic in the region.
Its habitat area extends from Paita Bay in Perú to
Tierra del Fuego in the Pacific Ocean, and in the Atlantic,
is found between Sao Paulo, Brazil to Cape Horn.
These porpoise are evasive and as a result, difficult to
observe. They are shy animals that swim quickly without disturbing
the water's surface.
The Burmeister's Porpoise is distinguished mainly by it's
dorsal fin that points backwards and is located in the posterior
third of the body, and doesn't exceed 6 cm in height. This
also contributes to the difficulty in their observation. The
most frequently observed group size is 2 or 3 individuals.
They rarely perform leaps, have prolonged immersions and have
erratic swimming patterns.
Since 1998 this dolphin has been studied by Fundación
Cethus in Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego Province, where
the main objective consists of patrolling zones in the canal
where the specie has been registered.
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