Sotalia (genus)
Encyclopedia
The genus
Sotalia now is considered to have two member species
with the classification of Sotalia guianensis as a distinct species from Sotalia fluviatilis in 2007. This was a result of recent morphometric analyses, as well as mitochondrial DNA analysis.
Members of this genus are found in the Atlantic and Caribbean
coasts of Central
and South America
as well as in the Amazon River
and most of its tributaries.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Sotalia now is considered to have two member species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
with the classification of Sotalia guianensis as a distinct species from Sotalia fluviatilis in 2007. This was a result of recent morphometric analyses, as well as mitochondrial DNA analysis.
Members of this genus are found in the Atlantic and Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
coasts of Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
as well as in the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and most of its tributaries.
Member species
- Sotalia fluviatilis, Tucuxi — (Gervais & Deville, 1853)
- Sotalia guianensis, Costero or Guiana dolphin — (van Bénéden, 1864)
Further reading
- Flach L, Flach PA, Chiarello AG (2008) Density, abundance and distribution of the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis van Benéden, 1864) in Sepitiba Bay, southeast Brazil. J Cetacean Res Manage 10:31-36.
- Di Beneditto APM, Arruda Remos RM (2004) Biology of the marine tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) in south-eastern Brazil. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 84:1245-1250