Lahille’s Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus)

Lahille’s dolphin is a distinctive and endangered subspecies of the bottlenose dolphin with a unique habitat found in the coastal waters off Brazil. The Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin population is estimated to have only 360 mature individuals left. What sets these remarkable marine mammals apart is their isolated range and ecological niche, adapted to the specific environmental conditions of this region. Lahille’s dolphins have evolved to thrive in this unique ecosystem, making their conservation and protection vital to preserving this distinct, isolated population.

Photo: PEDRO FRUET

Greatest threats to their Population​

Habitat Degradation

Lahille's dolphins confront the degradation of their natural habitat due to human activities, including pollution and coastal development. These factors disrupt their environment, affecting their ability to find food and reproduce.

Entanglement and Bycatch

Dolphins can become entangled in fishing gear, such as nets and lines, causing harm or even death. Bycatch in fishing operations is a significant threat to these dolphins.

Environmental Stressors

The presence of pollution, noise, and other environmental stressors can accelerate the aging process in dolphins. Determining the biological age of these animals is essential to understanding how these stressors impact their health and survival.

Photo: PEDRO FRUET

The NMMF IN ACTION

In collaboration with researchers from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and The Clock Foundation, Epigenetic Horvath aging clock, the NMMF has made significant progress in addressing these concerns. They have developed a novel and non-invasive technique to determine the chronological age of dolphins using epigenetics. The technique is being applied to facilitate age estimation of Lahille’s in partnership with Dr. Carol Tatsch, Dr. Pedro Fruet, and Dr. Eduardo Secchi at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande in Brazil. 

This breakthrough allows scientists to better understand the age structure of these endangered populations and predict their survival and reproduction rates. The NMMF’s innovative research in this area will play a vital role in the conservation and protection of Lahille’s dolphins and other endangered aquatic species.