&lt;b&gt;On the feeding habit of the Guiana Dolphin Sotalia guianensis (van Bénedèn, 1864) (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) in southeastern Brazil (~220S): has there been any change in more than two decades?&lt;/b&gt;

Ana Paula Madeira Di Beneditto,Clara Da Cruz Vidart Badia,Salvatore Siciliano

doi:10.11609/jott.2745.9.2.9840-9843

Abstract

Along the north and central coast of Rio de Janeiro State (22025’S–23000’S), southeastern Brazil, the Guiana Dolphin Sotalia guianensis forages on neritic prey, mainly fish. From the analysis of the dolphin’s stomach contents and the identification of partially digested prey, it was verified that the most frequent prey species were young specimens of Trichiurus lepturus. Comparing our results with previous studies on the feeding habits of Guiana Dolphin in the same region, we noticed the maintenance of its feeding preferences during more than two decades, indicating little or no change in the use of prey by this top predator.

Highlights

At least 70 fish species from 25 families are consumed by this dolphin along its distribution (Rosas et al 2010)
In southeastern Brazil, around 220S, the feeding habit of this dolphin was previously described by Di Beneditto & Ramos (2004), whose study analyzed 77 dolphins collected from 1987 to 1998, and by Di Beneditto & Siciliano (2007), in which 10 dolphins obtained from
The prey species are demersal (Sciaenidae family species, Porichthys porosissimus and Ariosoma opisthophthalma) or pelagic-demersal (T. lepturus), indicating that the Guiana Dolphin captures their prey along the water column

Summary

Introduction

At least 70 fish species from 25 families are consumed by this dolphin along its distribution (Rosas et al 2010). In southeastern Brazil, around 220S, the feeding habit of this dolphin was previously described by Di Beneditto & Ramos (2004), whose study analyzed 77 dolphins collected from 1987 to 1998, and by Di Beneditto & Siciliano (2007), in which 10 dolphins obtained from Results and Discussion Eight fish species (105 individuals and 10,945.5g) were identified in the stomach contents of the seven evaluated specimens (Table 2).

Results

Conclusion