Nature or Nurture: Is the Digestive System of the Pontoporia blainvillei Influenced or Determined by Its Diet?
Author:
Tostado-Marcos Carlos1, Olocco Diz María Julieta1ORCID, Martín-Orti Rosario2, Loureiro Juan-Pablo1, Molpeceres-Diego Ignacio13ORCID, Tendillo-Domínguez Enrique1, Pérez-Lloret Pilar2ORCID, Santos-Álvarez Inmaculada2ORCID, González-Soriano Juncal2ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Fundación Mundo Marino, Av. X 157, San Clemente del Tuyú B7105, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina 2. Sección Departamental de Anatomía y Embriología (Veterinaria), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain 3. Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
Abstract
The Franciscana (also known as the La Plata River Dolphin) is a small dolphin that lives in the coastal waters of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. This species is considered the most endangered marine mammal in the western South Atlantic Ocean. Anatomic dissection of the digestive system of 19 animals of different ages, including 2 neonates, 12 juveniles, and 5 adults, was performed. Parameters related to length, breadth, weight, and diameter of the digestive viscera were considered in each case. Our results show that the Franciscana dolphin presents differential characteristics in relation to several parts of the digestive system, including, specifically, the tongue, the teeth, the stomach, and the small intestine. Thus, this paper add precious information to the actual knowledge of this vulnerable marine mammal species in order to improve conservation efforts.
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