No.0133In residence
Stella
ステラ
Commerson's DolphinCephalorhynchus commersonii
- Sex
- Female
- Born
- May 26, 2001
LC— Least Concern
Commerson's Dolphinイロワケイルカ
Cephalorhynchus commersoniiLC— Least Concern
Commerson's dolphin is a small, striking black-and-white dolphin found in two widely separated populations — around Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands off South America, and around the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. Nicknamed the 'panda dolphin' for its coloring, it is a highly active swimmer known for leaping, wave-surfing, and even swimming upside-down. The IUCN classifies it as Least Concern, though accidental entanglement in gillnets remains a persistent threat.
Commerson's Dolphin (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Cetartiodactyla / Delphinidae Source
- Distribution
- Commerson's dolphin occurs in two isolated populations roughly 8,500 km apart: around Tierra del Fuego, the Strait of Magellan, and the Falkland Islands off southern South America, and around the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. Source
Did You Know?
- Its sharply delineated black-and-white coloring resembles a giant panda, earning it the nickname 'panda dolphin.' Source
- Commerson's dolphins are known for swimming upside-down, a behavior thought to improve their ability to see prey. Source
- The two known populations are separated by about 8,500 km, and the Kerguelen Islands population was not discovered until the 1950s. Source
Where to See This Species
4 facilities · 3 individuals
How to tell Dolphins, Porpoises, and Belugas apart →Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955
国内で数少ない飼育・繁殖施設のひとつ。出産が繰り返し報告されている。 Source
マリンピア松島水族館 (Marinpiamatsushima Suizokukan)MiyagiOpened in 1927
マリンピア松島水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source
宮島水族館 (Miyajima Suizokukan)HiroshimaOpened in 2011
宮島水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source
仙台うみの杜水族館 (Sendaiuminomori Suizokukan)MiyagiOpened in 2015
仙台うみの杜水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source
Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
IUCNは低危険種(LC、2017年評価)に分類。ワシントン条約(CITES)附属書IIに掲載されている。
Habitat
南米大陸南端の入り江・海峡や、インド洋南部ケルゲレン諸島周辺の沿岸海域に生息する。
Threats
- 刺し網への混獲は珍しくなく、偶発的な死亡の主要因となっている
- 過去には南米沿岸でカニ漁の餌として利用された歴史がある(近年は減少)
Conservation & Breeding Efforts
- ワシントン条約附属書IIへの掲載により国際取引が規制されている
Sources
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Individuals Remembered
No.0136In memoriam
Earth
アース
Commerson's DolphinCephalorhynchus commersonii
Toba Aquarium
- Sex
- Male
- Born
- July 11, 2021
LC— Least Concern
FAQ
- Why is Commerson's dolphin called the panda dolphin?
- Its sharply contrasting black-and-white body pattern resembles a giant panda's coloring, giving rise to the nickname. Source
- Where do Commerson's dolphins live?
- They occur in two isolated populations about 8,500 km apart: one around Tierra del Fuego, the Strait of Magellan, and the Falkland Islands in South America, and another around the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. Source
- Are Commerson's dolphins endangered?
- No, the IUCN lists them as Least Concern, though incidental deaths in fishing gillnets remain a common threat in parts of their range. Source