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Tucuxi
Order : Cetacea
Suborder : Odontoceti
Family : Delphinidae
Genus : Sotalia
Facts about the genus Sotalia, the tucuxi
Despite being found in similar geographic locations to 'true' river dolphins such as the Boto the Tucuxi is not closely related genetically.
Here the tucuxi are besieged by coastal traffic and pollution, incidental mortality from commercial fisheries, and the destruction of mangroves and salt marshes essential to their food web.
The tucuxi (Sotalia) is one of the least known cetacean species and although it might be abundant along its range, it confronts many conservation issues locally.
The Tucuxi is found solely in the coasts and rivers of north-eastern South America and eastern Central America.
The Tucuxi are very adaptable dolphins, some living 2,500 kilometers up the murky fresh water of the Amazon River, some in clear coastal sea waters from Panama to Southern Brazil, and others in the polluted estuaries and rivers along eastern Central and South America. (Full text)
Despite being found in similar geographic locations to 'true' river dolphins such as the Boto, the Tucuxi is not closely related to them genetically. (Full text)
N/A Sotalia is not a member of any public groups (Full text)
" Sotalia is a new writer here at Television Sims and is the author of this brand new production. (Full text)
It appears most likely that the tucuxi are the marine subspecies, and seldom range into the fresh water rivers and lagoons of the area (although there are occasional anecdotal reports of dolphins in fresh water areas). (Full text)
Sotalia is easily captured in monofilament gill nets as well as in shrimp and fish traps and seine nets. (Full text)
The IWC sub-committee (IWC, 2000) recognised that incidental catches of tucuxi are widespread. (Full text)
Tucuxi are also considered sacred animals in some areas where they are found, and local superstitions and beliefs further discourage capture or disturbance of these dolphins (Klinowska, 1991). (Full text)
Sotalia is found to be most active in early morning or late afternoon. (Full text)
Sotalia is also liable to incidental capture in gill nets. (Full text)
Within the whale order, which includes the dolphins, Sotalia is classed in the Delphinidae, the same family as the marine dolphins who swim in the seas. (Full text)
Small numbers of marine Tucuxi are caught for shark bait or shrimp traps, and it is thought that a small number may be hunted for sale in the Asian aphrodisiac market for the eyes and genitalia. (Full text)
Within the whale order, which includes the dolphins, Sotalia is classed in Delphinidae, the same family as the marine dolphins who swim in the seas and perform in oceanaria. (Full text)
In a separate project, marine Tucuxi are under study by colleague Paulo Flores in southern Brazil, near Florianopolis. (Full text)
The boto and tucuxi are cetaceans and belong to the same scientific Suborder, the Odontoceti because they have teeth. (Full text)