Phocoena spinipinnis Burmeister 1865

• Main Authors: Russell A. Mittermeier, Don E. Wilson
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2014
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Cetacea; Phocoenidae; Phocoena; Phocoena spinipinnis; Phocoena phocoena
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6607571; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B887D96B2FFFBFFA6C7C95FD288D52

4. Burmeister’s Porpoise Phocoena spinipinnis French: Marsouin de Burmeister / German: Burmeister-Schweinswal / Spanish: Marsopa espinosa Other common names: Black Porpoise Taxonomy. Phocaena spinipinnis Burmeister, 1865, Argentina, Buenos Aires, “captured in the mouth of the River Plata.” This species is monotypic. Distribution. Near-shore waters of South America, from N Peru (5° S) S to Cape Horn and up the Atlantic coast to S Brazil (28° 50” S). Records from Uruguay and Brazil may be associated with N extrusions ofcold water. Descriptive notes. Total length 150-200 cm; weight 50-105 kg. Burmeister’s Porpoises regularly reach lengths of up to 185 cm (although individuals up to 200 cm long have been reported from Uruguay), and males are slightly larger than females. Body shapeis generally typical of that of phocoenids, with a moderately robust form. Head has a very short, poorly defined beak. Flippers are broad-based with rounded tips, and flukes are typical of other small cetaceans. Dorsal fin is unique; it rises at a very shallow angle from the posterior portion of the back and is narrow, with a convex trailing edge and a slightly concave or straight leading edge. There are several small tubercles along leading edge of dorsal fin, and sometimes on flippers, which give Burmeister’s Porpoise its scientific name. Coloration is generally uniform dark gray, with a slightly paler belly. There are subtle stripes, streaks, and patches on the head, including dark eye and lip patches, a dark chin-to-flipper stripe, and pale streaks on chin and undersides. Flipper stripes are asymmetrical, being narrower and extending farther forward on the right side. Tooth counts generally are 10-23 in each half of each jaw. Habitat. Shallow coastal waters from very near the shoreline up to 50 km offshore. Burmeister’s Porpoises occur in some open-ocean waters but also in enclosed bays, channels, and fjords, and they have even been seen upstream in some rivers. They inhabit cooler waters, and water temperature may limit their northern ...