title: Range extension for the common dolphin (Delphinus sp.) to the Colombian Caribbean, with taxonomic implications from genetic barcoding and phylogenetic analyses.
abstract: The nearest known population of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) to the Colombian Caribbean occurs in a fairly restricted range in eastern Venezuela. These dolphins have not been previously reported in the Colombian Caribbean, likely because of a lack of study of the local cetacean fauna. We collected cetacean observations in waters of the Guajira Department, northern Colombia (~11°N, 73°W) during two separate efforts: (a) a seismic vessel survey (December 2009-March 2010), and (b) three coastal surveys from small boats (May-July 2012, May 2013, and May 2014). Here we document ten sightings of common dolphins collected during these surveys, which extend the known range of the species by ~1000 km into the southwestern Caribbean. We also collected nine skin biopsies in 2013 and 2014. In order to determine the taxonomic identity of the specimens, we conducted genetic barcoding and phylogenetic analyses using two mitochondrial markers, the Control Region (mtDNA) and Cytochrome b (Cytb). Results indicate that these specimens are genetically closer to the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) even though morphologically they resemble a long-beaked form (Delphinus sp.). However, the specific taxonomic status of common dolphins in the Caribbean and in the Western Atlantic remains unresolved. It is also unclear whether the distribution of the species between northern Colombia and eastern Venezuela is continuous or disjoined, or whether they can be considered part of the same stock.
authors.affiliation: Conjunto Caeli Reservado, Cajicá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Nohelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farías-Curtidor
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Laboratorio J-202, Bogotá, Colombia.|Fundación Macuáticos Colombia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Dalia C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Barragán-Barrera
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Laboratorio J-202, Bogotá, Colombia.|Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Paula Alejandra
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chávez-Carreño
authors.affiliation: Zona Rural - Piedras Coloradas S/N. Las Grutas, Río Negro, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Pinedo
authors.affiliation: Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon, United States of America.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.affiliation: Fundación Omacha, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Dalila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caicedo
authors.affiliation: Fundación Omacha, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos LEMVA, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Laboratorio J-202, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caballero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017691:Caribbean Region; D002591:Cetacea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D003105:Colombia; D050696:Common Dolphins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics*; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000379:methods*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005843:Geography; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011157:Population Dynamics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D013045:Species Specificity; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D045303:Cytochromes b