In the early part of the 20th century, the Chilean dolphin was commonly known as the black dolphin.

The wildlife in this area also include Chilean dolphins, sea lions, marine otters and elephant seals.

Whatever its number, the Chilean dolphin is endemic to the coast of Chile and thought not to migrate.

The population of the Chilean dolphin, perhaps one of the least studied of all cetaceans, is not known with certainty.

The Chilean dolphin is normally sighted in small groups of around two to 10 individuals, with some larger gatherings occasionally sighted.

These features are sufficient to distinguish the porpoise from the similar-sized Chilean Dolphin which is found in the porpoise's Pacific range.

The Chilean dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia), also known as the black dolphin, is one of four dolphins in the Cephalorhynchus genus.

It is one of four dolphins in the genus Cephalorhynchus - the others being the Chilean dolphin, Hector's dolphin, and Commerson's dolphin.

The Chilean dolphin is listed on Appendix II Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

The northwestern of Chiloé Island has a great diversity of marine fauna, including blue whale, sei whale, Chilean dolphins and Peale's dolphins; sea lions, marine otters, and Magellanic penguin and Humboldt penguins.

There may be as many as a few thousand individuals, although at least one researcher, Steve Leatherwood, has suggested the population may be much lower (see also [1] for a survey of South American cetacean population with data on the Chilean dolphin).

ARKive - images and movies of the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei)

La Plata Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei)