MARINE MAMMAL OCCURRENCE IN DEEP WATERS OF THE BRAZIL-MALVINAS CONFLUENCE OFF ARGENTINA DURING SUMMER.

This article presents the results of a summer survey of marine mammal occurrence at the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence in the Argentine Sea shelf break. A total of 61 marine mammal sightings were recorded. The most frequent species recorded were South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis; 75.4%; 78-4670 m), followed by sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus; 8.2%; 478-2825m), sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis; 4.9%; 1513-4674 m) and long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas; 3.3%; 1119-1534m), with a small number of unidentified cetaceans (4.9%; 87-2248 m). This new information about marine mammal species in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence updates knowledge of their distribution in this highly productive area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]