Nature or Nurture: Is the Digestive System of the Pontoporia blainvillei Influenced or Determined by Its Diet?

• Published in: Animals
• Main Authors: Carlos Tostado-Marcos, María Julieta Olocco Diz, Rosario Martín-Orti, Juan-Pablo Loureiro, Ignacio Molpeceres-Diego, Enrique Tendillo-Domínguez, Pilar Pérez-Lloret, Inmaculada Santos-Álvarez, Juncal González-Soriano
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2024
• Subjects: Pontoporia blainvillei; anatomy; digestive system; diet; adaptations; Veterinary medicine; SF600-1100; Zoology; QL1-991; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050661; https://doaj.org/article/1e53daf4216b4dffbb42b9559075ae9b

The Franciscana (also known as the La Plata River Dolphin) is a small dolphin that lives in the coastal waters of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. This species is considered the most endangered marine mammal in the western South Atlantic Ocean. Anatomic dissection of the digestive system of 19 animals of different ages, including 2 neonates, 12 juveniles, and 5 adults, was performed. Parameters related to length, breadth, weight, and diameter of the digestive viscera were considered in each case. Our results show that the Franciscana dolphin presents differential characteristics in relation to several parts of the digestive system, including, specifically, the tongue, the teeth, the stomach, and the small intestine. Thus, this paper add precious information to the actual knowledge of this vulnerable marine mammal species in order to improve conservation efforts.