Dear colleagues, We are happy to share our recent publication in Journal of Mammalogy:
Revalidation of *Tursiops gephyreus* Lahille, 1908 (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Janaina Carrion Wickert; Sophie Maillard von Eye; Larissa Rosa Oliveira; Ignacio Benites Moreno. *Journal of Mammalogy* 2016. Doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw139. ABSTRACT: Historically, the taxonomic status of the bottlenose dolphins, *Tursiops*, has been confusing. Over 20 nominal species have been described in, or transferred to, the genus, but most them have been synonymized under *T. truncatus*, the type species of the genus. Here, we review the taxonomic status of *Tursiops gephyreus* Lahille, 1908, from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA), a taxon long considered as either synonym or subspecies of *T. truncatus. *We examined a total of 280 bottlenose dolphin skulls, including the lectotype of *T. gephyreus*. We examined all specimens for morphological (14 characters) and morphometric (29 measurements) differences. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to test differences between groups. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of skulls as well as the vertebrae number of *Tursiops *specimens from SWA, we recognized 2 distinct morphological forms of bottlenose dolphins in the region, consistent with treatment of 2 species under the “diagnosable version of the Phylogenetic Species Concept.” Six qualitative characters are reliable for the identification of both species in the SWA, but the shape of the nasal process of the right premaxilla alone is sufficient to separate the species. Furthermore, the total number of vertebrae is higher in *T. truncatus* (62–64) than in *T. gephyreus* (57–59). Based on these results, we propose the revalidation of *T. gephyreus*. Since *T. gephyreus *was recognized as inhabiting the estuaries and the surf zone alongside the Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina coasts, the conservation efforts must take into account that this region presents similar threats to the species. Feel free to contact me for any inquiries or to request the PDF at: j <helopavan...@gmail.com>cwick...@gmail.com Best regards, Janaína -- MSc. Janaína Wickert Laboratório de Sistemática e Ecologia de Aves e Mamíferos Marinhos Dep. de Zoologia - UFRGS - Instituto de Biociências. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Bloco IV - Prédio 43435 - Sala 206. Porto Alegre - RS - Brasil. CEP:91.501-970. Telefone: 55-51-3308.7706 & Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio Grande do Sul - GEMARS www.gemars.org.br
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