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EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY AND PIGMENTATION OF THE VAQUITA, PHOCOENA SINUS (CETACEA: MAMMALIA)
Author(s) -
Brownell Robert L.,
Findley Lloyd T.,
Vidal Omar,
Robles Alejandro,
Silvia Manzanilla N
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-7692.1987.tb00149.x
Subject(s) - porpoise , phocoena , cetacea , anatomy , dorsal fin , biology , dorsum , black spot , zoology , harbour , computer science , horticulture , programming language
A bstract The vaquita, Phocoena sinus , is a porpoise in the family Phocoenidae that lives only in the Gulf of California. The external appearance of P. sinus was unknown until 13 fresh specimens were recently examined. The most obvious morphological feature distinguishing P. sinus from its two congeners is the proportionately higher dorsal fin. The most striking features of the pigmentation pattern are the large black eye patches and the black upper and lower lip patches. In both areas, the pigmentation contrasts sharply with the surrounding light gray coloration. The total lengths of the specimens ranged from 70.3 cm (a neonate) to 143.5 cm (an adult female).