commerson's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersoniiimage credit: whatadqr

commerson's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersoniiimage credit: Creature Temple

commerson's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersoniiimage credit: mthalen

commerson's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersoniiimage credit: NikonDavid2007

commerson's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersoniiimage credit: madebackwards

commerson's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersoniiimage credit: arkive.org
Habitat: Argentina and the Kerguelen Islands
Status: Data Deficient

No, this isn’t a miniature Killer Whale, though it definitely resembles one doesn’t it? Like an inside-out orca? Ok, maybe that’s just me…

Anyways, this is the Commerson’s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) though I prefer to call it by its other common name, the Panda Dolphin. Why? Because it’s cuter. Obvs.

The species is only distributed in two locations in the world. The larger population is found inshore in various inlets in Argentina, in the Strait of Magellan and near the Falkland Islands. The second population (discovered in the 1950s) resides near the Kerguelen Islands. Population information is incomplete on the Panda Dolphin, but it’s estimated that there are around 3,400 individuals in the Straight of Magellan alone.

Males and females can be distinguished by the the different shape of the black blotch on their bellies. It is shaped like a teardrop in males but more rounded in females!

If you want to see a Panda Dolphin for yourself, there are around two dozen in captivity including including SeaWorld San Diego, Aquatica.