First record of an anomalously colored franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei

Abstract

On October 2011, a newborn franciscana dolphin with an anomalously coloration was sighted in Babitonga Bay, southern Brazil. The calf was totally white. Besides the potential mother and newborn, the group also had the presence of another adult, who always was swimming behind the pair. Both adults had the typical coloration of the species, with the back in grayish brown. The group, composed by the white franciscana calf, his pontential mother and one more adult, was reported in five occasions. The group was always in the same area where it was first recorded and showed the same position during swimming. Between first and last sighting of the white calf (113 days) the color has not changed. This is the first case of a white franciscana dolphin. This coloration has never been reported despite the high number of dead franciscanas recovered each year along the distribution of the species, resulting from accidental capture in fishing nets. This fact leads us to believe that this is a very rare characteristic for this species. We considered the possibility that this franciscana could be an albino dolphin.

Synopsis on the Most Common Pathologies of Dolphins

“…The first case of a white franciscana dolphin has recently been reported by Cremer et al (2014). They have sighted an albino franciscana dolphin with an anomalously coloration in Babitonga Bay, southern Brazil.…”

Protein extraction methods of tomato, environmental changes of the Amazon Forest in Roraima (northernmost part of Brazil) for the last 1000 years, and histological characteristics of a dolphin species

“…Using multiple lines of evidence such as geochemistry and palinological data from three different sediment cores, these authors were able to establish the vegetation dynamic in the last millennium in this region, providing some explanations on how the current sharp boundaries between the forest and savanna ecosystems have been maintained. Dolphins comprise a group of Cetacean mammals fully adapted to an aquatic lifestyle and are observed quite frequently along the Brazilian coast (e.g., Cremer et al 2013). Economic activity regarding these animals has been growing, with some being used even in the tourism industry (e.g., Alves et al 2013).…”

First evidence of the Ediacaran fauna in Northeastern Brazil, an albino dolphin, and trophic groups of a bird community in Alagoas

“…During a study of populations made by Marta J. Cremer (Universidade da Região de Joinville) and colleagues, they spotted a small individual, probably a juvenile, along with two adults (Cremer et al 2014). The larger individuals show the typical brownish to dark gray color of this species (e.g., Jefferson et al 2008).…”