Pontoporia blainvillei

– Data Deficient

Taxonomy

Kingdom:

ANIMALIA

Phylum:

CHORDATA

Class:

MAMMALIA

Order:

CETACEA

Family:

PONTOPORIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pontoporia blainvillei

Species Authority:

(Gervais & d'Orbigny, 1844)

Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:

See Pontoporia blainvillei (Rio Grande do Sul/Uruguay subpopulation)

Common Name/s:

English	—	FRANCISCANA, LA PLATA RIVER DOLPHIN
French	—	DAUPHIN DE LA PLATA
Spanish	—	DELFÍN DE LA PLATA, TONINA

Taxonomic Notes:

Was in the 1996-2002 IUCN Red Lists under the family Platanistidae. Some authors prefer to place it rather in the family Iniidae.

Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria:

DD ver 2.3 (1994)

Year Assessed:

1996

Annotations:

Needs updating

Assessor/s:

Cetacean Specialist Group

Justification:

Extract from Reeves et al. (2003, p. 53): "This small cetacean occurs only along the east coast of South America, between Itaúnas (Espirito Santo, Brazil, 18°25'S) ( Moreira and Siciliano 1991) and Golfo San Matías (northern Patagonia, Argentina, 41°10'S) (Crespo et al. 1998). Based on the distribution of sightings and catches, it seems to inhabit a narrow strip of coastal waters between the surf line and the 30m isobath. It is ecologically tied to areas that receive large volumes of nutrient-rich continental runoff and are influenced by subtropical shelf waters. Juvenile sciaenid fish are the Franciscana’s principal prey. Two Franciscana populations are recognized based on differences in skull morphology and genetic and parasite markers: a smaller northern form between Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina; and a larger southern form in Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay, and Argentina (Pinedo 1991, Secchi et al. 1998). Recent aerial surveys indicate that there may be about 42,000 franciscanas in the waters of Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay (95% confidence interval: 33,047–53,542) between the shore and the 30 m isobath – an area of about 64,000 km² (Secchi et al. 2001).

The Franciscana is a particular conservation concern because of its restricted distribution and vulnerability to incidental capture in fishing gear. Large numbers are killed in gillnets. Although the largest documented catches in the 1970s were in Uruguay, catches in recent decades have also been high in southern Brazil and Argentina (Praderi et al. 1989, Pérez Macri and Crespo 1989, Monzón and Corcuera 1991, Secchi et al. 1997, Secchi 1999). Available evidence suggests that mortality rates are excessive and unsustainable (Crespo 1998, Secchi et al. 2002, Secchi and Wang 2002). Scientists in the three range countries are well aware of the need for more research and conservation action, but they need external support."

History:

1988	-	Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1990	-	Insufficiently Known (IUCN 1990)
1994	-	Insufficiently Known (Groombridge 1994)

Geographic Range

Range Description:	The Franciscana dolphin inhabits shallow coastal and estuarine waters of tropical and temperate regions of the western South Atlantic Ocean. Its distribution extends from Itaúnas (18°25'S), Espírito Santo State in southeastern Brazil (Siciliano 1994), to Golfo Nuevo (42°35'S), Chubut Province, Argentina (Crespo et al. 1998). However, the species is not distributed continuously throughout its range.
Countries:	Native: Argentina (Buenos Aires, Chubut, Rio Negro); Brazil (Espírito Santo, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo); Uruguay
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Atlantic-southwest

Population

Population:

Surveys (including beach surveys, visits to museum collections, interviews with local people) indicate that franciscanas are extremely rare or absent in two areas of the northern parts of their range between Macaé (southern Rio de Janeiro State) and Ubatuba (northern São Paulo State) and in southern Espírito Santo State (Azevedo et al. 2002, Siciliano et al. 2002, Secchi et al. 2003a). The reasons for these gaps are unclear, but because the species prefers shallow, turbid waters (Pinedo et al. 1989, Brownell 1989), water transparency and depth may be among the factors responsible (Siciliano et al. 2002).

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology:

The species is endemic to coastal waters of eastern South America. Although it is found mainly in marine waters and only occasionally in estuaries, it is relatively common in the Uruguayan part of the La Plata River estuary (Praderi 1986). The Franciscana is generally found in turbid waters less than 30 m deep (Pinedo et al. 1989, Secchi and Ott 2000) where it feeds mainly on demersal fish species (e.g., Brownell, 1989, Di Beneditto and Ramos 2001, Rodriguez et al. 2002, see Danilewicz et al. 2002 for a comprehensive review). It does not appear to undergo large seasonal migrations and little is known about daily movements (Bordino et al. 1999, Bordino 2002).

System:

Freshwater; Marine

List of Habitats:

5.1	Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)
9.1	Marine Neritic - Pelagic
10.1	Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m)

Threats

List of Threats:

4.1.1.2	Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Netting (ongoing)
4.1.1.3	Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Entanglement (ongoing)
6.3	Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution (ongoing)
8.3	Changes in native species dynamics - Prey/food base (ongoing)

Bibliography

Bibliography:

Azevedo, A.F., Fragoso, A.B.L., Lailson-Brito Jr., J. and Cunha, H.A. 2002. Records of the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) in the southwestern Rio de Janeiro and northernmost São Paulo state coasts Brazil. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 1 (special issue 1): 191-192.

Bordino, P. 2002. Movement patterns of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) in Bahia Anegada, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 1 (special issue 1): 71-76.

Bordino, P., Thompson, G. and Iñiguez, M. 1999. Ecology and behaviour of the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) in Bahia Anegada, Argentina. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 1: 213-222.

Brownell Jr., R.L. 1989. Franciscana Pontoporia blainvillei (Gervais and d´Orbigny, 1844). In: S. Ridgway and R. Harrison. (eds) Handbook of Marine Mammals. Vol 5 The First Book of Dolphins, pp. 45-67. Academic Press, London.

Crespo, E.A. (ed.) 1998. Informe del tercer taller para la coordinación de la investigación y la conservación de la Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) en el Atlántico Sudoccidental. Buenos Aires, 26–28 November 1997. Report to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), UNEP Secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 23pp.

Crespo, E.A., Harris, G. and González, R. 1998. Group size and distributional range of the Franciscana, Pontoporia blainvillei. Marine Mammal Science 14: 845-849.

Danilewicz, D., Rosas, F., Bastida, R., Marigo, J., Muelbert, M., Rodriguez, D., Lailson-Brito Jr., J., Ruoppolo, V., Ramos, R., Bassoi, M., Ott, P.H., Caon, G., Rocha, A.M., Catão-Dias, J.L., and Secchi, E.R. 2002. Report of the Working Group on Biology and Ecology. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 1 (special issue 1): 25-42.

Di Beneditto, A.P.M. and Ramos, R.M.A. 2001. Biology and conservation of the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) in the north of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 3(2): 185-192.

Groombridge, B. (ed.) 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1988. 1988 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN. 1990. 1990 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Monzón, F. and Corcuera, J. 1991. Franciscana Pontoporia blainvillei (Gervais & d’Orbigny, 1844). In: H.L. Capozzo and M. Junín (eds) Estado de Conservación de los Mamíferos Marinos del Atlántico Sudoccidental, pp. 16–22. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Informes y estudios del Programa de Mares Regionales del PNUMA No. 138.

Moreira, L.M. de P., and Siciliano, S. 1991. Northward range extension for Pontoporia blainvillei. Ninth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 5–9 December, Chicago, Illinois. [Abstract]

Pinedo, M.C. 1991. Development and variation of the Franciscana Pontoporia blainvillei. Doctoral Thesis, University of California, Santa Cruz. 406pp.

Pinedo, M.C., Praderi, R. and Brownell Jr., R.L. 1989. Review of the biology and status of the Franciscana Pontoporia blainvillei. In: W.F. Perrin, R.L. Brownell Jr., K. Zhou and J. Liu (eds) Biology and Conservation of the River Dolphins, pp. 45-61. IUCN SSC 3, Occasional Papers, Gland.

Praderi, R. 1986. Comentarios sobre la distribución de Pontoporia blainvillei en aguas del Rio de La Plata. In: H.P. Castello (ed.) Actas I Reunión de Trabajo de Especialistas en Mamíferos Acuáticos de América del Sur, Buenos Aires, pp. 206-214.

Praderi, R., Pinedo, M.C. and Crespo, E.A. 1989. Conservation and management of Pontoporia blainvillei in Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina. In: W.F. Perrin, R.L. Brownell Jr., Zhou Kaiya, and Liu Jiankang (eds) Biology and Conservation of the River Dolphins, pp. 52–56. IUCN/SSC Occasional Paper No. 3, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Pérez Macri, G. and Crespo, E.A. 1989. Survey of the Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) along the Argentine coast with a preliminary evaluation of incidental mortality in coastal fisheries. In: W.F. Perrin, R.L. Brownell Jr., Zhou Kaiya, and Liu Jiankang (eds) Biology and Conservation of the River Dolphins, pp. 57–63. IUCN/SSC Occasional Paper No. 3, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Reeves, R.R., Smith, B.D., Crespo, E.A. and di Sciara, G.N. (compilers) 2003. Dolphins, Whales and Porpoises: 2002-2010 Conservation Action Plan for the World's Cetaceans. IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Rodríguez, D., Rivero, L. and Bastida, R. 2002. Feeding ecology of Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) in estuarine and marine waters of Argentina. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 1 (special issue 1): 77-94.

Secchi, E.R. 1999. Taxa de crescimento potencial intrínseco de um estoque de franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei (Gervais & D'Orbigny, 1844) (Cetacea, Pontoporiidae) sob o impacto da pesca costeira de emalhe. MSc. Thesis, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande. 152pp.

Secchi, E.R. and Ott, P.H. 2000. A profundidade como um fator determinante da distribuição de toninhas, Pontoporia blainvillei, conforme indicado pelos índices de CPUE. In: UNEP/CMS (eds) Report of the Third Workshop for Coordinated Research and Conservation of the Franciscana Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) in the Southwestern Atlantic, pp. 55-57. UNEP/CMS, Bonn.

Secchi, E.R. and Wang, J.Y. 2002. Assessment of the conservation status of a Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) stock in the Franciscana Management Area III following the IUCN Red List process. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue) 1: 183-190.

Secchi, E.R., Danilewicz, D. and Ott, P.H. 2003a. Applying the phylogeographic concept to identify Franciscana dolphin stocks: implications to meet management objectives. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 5(1): 61-68.

Secchi, E.R., Ott, P.H. and Danilewicz, D. 2002. Report of the fourth workshop for the coordinated research and conservation of the Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) in the western South Atlantic. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue) 1: 11–20.

Secchi, E.R., Ott, P.H., Crespo, E.A., Kinas, P.G., Pedraza, S.N. and Bordino, P. 2001. A first estimate of Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) abundance off southern Brazil. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 3: 95-100.

Secchi, E.R., Wang, J.Y., Murray, B., Roccha-Campos, C.C. and White, B.N. 1998. Populational differences between franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei, from two geographical locations as indicated by sequences of mtDNA control region. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76: 1622-1627.

Secchi, E.R., Zerbini, A.N., Bassoi, M., Dalla Rosa, L., Moller, L.M. and Roccha-Campos, C.C. 1997. Mortality of franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei, in coastal gillneting in southern Brazil: 1994-1995. Reports of the International Whaling Commission 47: 653-658.

Siciliano, S., Di Beneditto, A.P. and Ramos, R.M.A. 2002. A toninha, Pontoporia blainvillei (Gervais & d’Orbigny, 1844) (Mammalia, Cetacea, Pontoporiidae), nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e Espírito Santo, costa sudeste do Brasil: caracterizações dos habitats e fatores de isolamento das populações. Boletim do Museu Nacional, Zoologia 476: 1-15.

Citation:	Cetacean Specialist Group 1996. Pontoporia blainvillei. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 September 2008.
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