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Atypical coloration in a specimen of estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, on the littoral of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, north-east Brazil
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2009
Abstract
The coloration pattern of the estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, does not display variations in its distribution and the colour grey, as its common name suggests, is predominant. On the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte a dolphin was sighted with atypical coloration in relation to animals from that region. After observing its morphological characteristics, it was verified that the animal was a white specimen of S. guianensis. Although photographic recordings were made, the reddish coloration of the eye cannot be confirmed, a characteristic that would identify the animal as an albino dolphin. Despite not being very frequent, cases of coloration anomalies such as albinism have been previously recorded in 20 species of cetaceans. However, there have been no cases recorded for the estuarine dolphin.
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- Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2007
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