Abdominal ultrasonography in Lahille's bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus): Description and reference values.

First ultrasonographic reference values established for Lahille's bottlenose dolphin support clinical assessment and conservation.

This study established the first systematic ultrasonographic reference values for Lahille's bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus), an endemic and vulnerable species from South American coastal waters. Nine clinically healthy dolphins under human care underwent portable ultrasonographic examination of abdominal organs following positive reinforcement training. Standardized measurements were recorded for liver, bile duct, stomachs, intestines, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs. Notable findings include consistent pancreatic visualization with first-ever dolphin ultrasonographic description of the pancreatic duct in six individuals. Testicular volume demonstrated strong correlations with body weight, total length, and age, confirming utility for reproductive maturity assessment. Renal lithiasis of varying severity was detected in five dolphins, while splenic visualization proved challenging, achieved clearly in only two individuals. Stomach wall measurements differed significantly from Tursiops truncatus truncatus subspecies, though other parameters remained comparable. These reference values provide essential baseline data supporting clinical veterinary care, reproductive monitoring protocols, and conservation management strategies for this vulnerable endemic species.

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