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Dolphin Feature - Bermeister's Porpoise

© Carma Haley Shoemaker

History: A German scientist, Herman Karl Conrad Bermeister was the first to describe what was soon to be his signature dolphin species.

After settling in Argentina, Bermeister planned a built a center for cetology study at the Museo Argetino de Ciencias Naturales in Buenos Aires. Shortly after building completion, in 1865, a boat of fisherman caught a "strange fish,"alive, off shore at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. After examining the species, Bermeister noticed spiny, thorn-like bumps on the leading edge of the dorsal fin and named it 'spinipinnis,' (from the Latin words spinna, meaning 'a thorn,' and pinna, meaning 'wing' or 'fin').

Identification: Bermeister's Porpoise is best identified by the dorsal fin, which, in addition to the "thorns," is set back further on the body then most other dolphin species, being closer to the tail fin then the head.

Appearance: This species of dolphin, Bermeister's Porpoise, can reach maximum lengths of approximately 6 feet. Females are slightly smaller in both length and build then males. The flippers of Bermeister's are broad and large in size and slope down to result in a blunt tip. Dominant coloring of Bermeister's is black with various markings and shading in shades of gray beginning at the throat and continuing down the belly to the tail.

Feeding: Bermeister's Porpoise has approximately 62 to 70 teeth, (14-16 in each of two top rows, 17-19 in each of two bottom rows). It is believed that the Bermeister's Porpoise thrives mainly on the local fish and squid of the region. This is one of the main reasons why the numbers of Bermeister's Porpoise in the wild is estimated to be very small compared to other species, even other coastal dolphins.

Habitat: There are several known pods of Bermeister's Porpoise on either coast of southern South America. It is thought that these various pods may have all been one that was separated at a later time, developing and adapting into smaller pods. This dolphin species likes the warm coastal waters that South America offers and are not usually seen any further north then central South America.

In reality, there is very little known about the Bermeister's Porpoise other then the above. As it does not travel far, and feeds off of the same food source as many of the residents of coastal South America, the risk for these dolphins to be trapped, caught, and killed by fishing boats and their nets, is very high.

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