Resolving Chilean dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia, Gray 1846) synonymy by sequencing DNA extracted from teeth of museum specimens

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA was amplified and sequenced from single teeth of six museum specimens described by Phillipi (1893) as three novel species, Phocoena albiventris, Tursio platyrhinus and T. panope. Subsequently, these specimens were reviewed and, with the exception of T. panope, were suggested as probable specimens of Chilean dolphin, Cephalorhynchus eutropia. DNA sequence from five of the six samples were compared to an existing database of odontocete type-sequences. These confirm that the specimens were Chilean dolphins. We conclude that T. panope is a Chilean dolphin, albeit of unusual size. These results demonstrate the utility of genetic testing of museum specimens to help resolve uncertainty in species identification.