The size of this dolphin can be very different based on location. Some of them are just shy of 4 feet long and others are a bit over 5 ½ feet. They can weigh as much as 190 pounds. What is very interesting with this species of dolphin is that the females are usually a bit larger than the males.
They body of the Commerson’s Dolphin is very round, but it is also tapered at the ends. This enables them to have a body designed to swim fast but also to conserve energy as they do so.
Their body is designed for swimming. They have pectoral fins that are short and they are well supported by connective tissues. They also have control over blood circulation through the pectoral flippers. This is believed to assist them with maintaining the right body temperature.
They have a very interesting coloration pattern to them which is black and white. This serves to offer them camouflage in the water. The coloring can also make it possible for males and females to be distinguished from each other. The males have a patch on their belly that is oval shaped. For females, this same patch is going to be in the shape of a V.
There are 29 or 30 teeth located on each side of the jaw, both up and down. As a result, the Commerson’s Dolphin will have either 116 or 120 teeth total.
Distribution
There are two main locations where you will find this dolphin living. The largest of the two populations is around the inlets of Argentina and into the Strait of Magellan close to Falkland Islands. The other population is around the Kerguelen Islands and it wasn’t discovered until the 1950s. They tend to spend most of their time in the shallow water areas. They are found around harbors, rivers, and bays too. It is rare for them to be found at depths of more than 650 feet.
(source:google/http://www.dolphins-world.com/)
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