La Plata Dolphin Skull Replica

Description

La Plata dolphin skull replica measures 15.0 x 5.5 x 4.0 inches. The Pontoporia blainvillei skull is a museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

The La Plata dolphin live in the costal Atlantic waters of southeastern South America including the Rio de la Plata estuary. Its range extends from Brazil down to Argentina. It is the only river dolphin that inhabits the ocean and saltwater estuaries.

This animal moves very smoothly and slowly through the water. It is very hard to spot unless the conditions are completely calm. It usually swims along or in small groups.

The dolphin has a greyish brown body with a lighter underside. It features very board flippers and a rounded dorsal fin. This species has the longest beak of any dolphin relative to its body size. Inside its mouth, it has 48 to 61 teeth on each side of its jaws.

These animals feed along the ocean floor. They eat at least 24 different species of fish. They also hunt for octopus, squid and shrimp.

Scienific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Infraorder: Cetacea
• Superfamily: Inioidea
• Family: Pontoporiidae
• Genus: Pontoporia
• Species: P. blainvillei
• Binomial name: Pontoporia blainvillei Gervais & d’Orbigny, 1844
• Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)

Pair the La Plata dolphin skull with the Amazon River dolphin skull replica to contrast ocean and freshwater environments. The rough-toothed dolphin female skull replica also works well to show unique tooth ridges, and the Risso’s gray dolphin skull replica provides a massive contrast with its blunt, rounded head shape.