Primeiros registros dos golfinhos Stenella coeruleoalba, Stenella cfr. plagiodon e Steno bredanensis para o sul do Brasil, com notas osteológicas

Menella coeruieoalba is a dolphin widely distributed in temperate and tropical waters. This species is recorded for our marine fauna on the basis of a 2.35 m long specimen found at 20 km North of the East rocky jetty on the access channel into Lagoa dos Patos, RS, (MORG 064) and also from a sightning in front of Santa Catarina coast. Its vertebral formula is: C 7 + D 14 + L 21 + Ca 34 = 76, with 23 Chevron bones. The number of alveoli is 48-48 / 43-42, its presents 14 pairs of ribs, 8 of them double-headed. The skull measurements of this specimen are compared with other three from the Southern Hemisphere. Through colour slides obtained in front of Rio de Janeiro coasts, Steno bredanensis was recorded. This dolphin also presents a wide distribution similar to the previous species. During the first cruise of the R/V "Atlântico Sul" two pods of the spotted dolphin, Stenella cfr. plagiodon were sighted and photographed. This species can be easily identified on the basis of the clear brown tegument with numerous white rounded spots, in adults. One of the skull (MCNRS 026) studied may belong to this species.