Review of small cetaceans stranded or incidentally capture on the coast of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, over 33 years.

GOODALL RNP; DELLABIANCA NATALIA; BOY CLAUDIA; LUIS BENEGAS; PIMPER LIDA; RICCIALDELLI LUCIANA

Santiago

Encuentro; Reunión del Comité Científico de la Comisión Ballenera Internacional (IWC); 2008

The coasts of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, have been surveyed periodically for stranded or incidentally caught cetaceans,especially during the warmer months, since 1974-75. Animals encountered are studied, necropsied, samples taken and theskeletons cleaned for museum specimens. In these 33 years, 1775 cetacean specimens were collected, although not all of themwere complete. The Tierra del Fuego collection now contains 23 species of small cetaceans: 12 species of Delphinidae, two ofPhocoenidae, and eight of Ziphidae, as well as the pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata), which is not treated here. Most specimens were found on the northeast coast, often trapped by the tide or taken in shore-set nets. Only a few specimens ofPeale’s dolphins were harpooned for crab bait. Locations, number of animals per sex, maximum lengths, age and state ofphysical maturity are given, if known. Opportunistic study of stranded animals can produce a great deal of information on thelife history of certain species, especially those that inhabit isolated or distant areas where other types of studies may be difficult.