ORGAN WEIGHTS OF PONTOPORIA BLAINVILLEI AND
PLATANISTA GANGETICA (PLATANISTIDAE)TOSHIRO KAMIYA
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, TokyoFUSAO YAMASAKI
Department of Biology, Sapporo Medical College, Sapporo

Ninety-five specimens of the Franciscana Pontoporia blainvillei were collected. bythe University of Tokyo Cetacean Research Expedition at Punta del Diablo,
Uruguay, from December 1972 to February 1973. Various measurements weretaken on the visceral organs of 14 of those animals; they are shown in Table 1.
Most of the organs were weighed fresh at Punta del Diablo, but some of themwere weighed after fixation in 10 % formalin solution.
The same organization collected 15 Susu, Platanista gangetica in the Brahmaputra River (Bangladesh) in 1969-'70 and similar quantitative data were obtained
from 4 individuals (Table 2).
We wish to compare the figures obtained from the heart, the pancreas and thekidney of both species (Pontoporia and Platanista ), limiting this paper to short noteson the raw data and percentages.
Heart. The relative weight of the heart varies from 0.42 to 0.69 % in Pontoporia and from 0.22 to 0.28% in Platanista. The difference is notable. This may be
because it is related to the difference of habitats, Pontoporia living in open coastal
water and Platanista in quiet inland fresh water.
Pancreas. These figures also are higher in Pontoporia than in Platanista. The
relative weight of the former ranges from 0.12 to 0.35% whereas that of the latter
varies only from 0.04 to 0.09%. We should point out that, in Platanista, the pancreas
occupies the usual retroperitoneal position but that, in Pontoporia, the greater part ofthe pancreas is enclosed in a mesentery, hanging more or less freely in the abdominalcavity. Also it is worth noticing that the organ is a bulky suboval mass in Platanista
whereas that of the Pontoporia is flat and enclosed throughout most of the dorsal
layer of the omentum majus.
Kidney. A similar difference is observed between the kidney of Pontoporia(0.30 to 0.43%) and that of Platanista (0.12 to 0.27%). Two specimens of Platanista,
117 and 199 cm long, had right kidneys weighing* 45 and 83 g respectively, but
two specimens of Pontoporia approximately of similar size (113 and 171 cm) hadright kidneys weighing 60 and 170 g, respectively. In the case of one Inia geoffrensis
specimen with a body length of 204 cm, the kidney weight was 150 g. We get theimpression again that the sea-living Pontoporia possesses a relatively larger organ* weight of renculi without interrencular connective tissue.
Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst.,

No. 26, 1974, 265-270

266

KAMIYA AND YAMASAKI

than the fresh water inhabiting Platanista and Inia. This fact is reinforced by thefigures obtained from three more sea-dolphins i.e., Neophocaena phocaenoides (bodylength 150 cm) with a kidney weighing 210 g, Delphinus delphis (177 cm) with a 154 g
kidney and Stenella coeruleoalba (207 cm) with one of 186 g.
Observation of the lobulation of the kidneys also showed differences between
the sea and river dolphins. We found 46 and 57 renculi in Platanista, 75 and 90 in
Pontoporia, but 138 in Neophocaena, 269 in Delphinus and 270 in Stenella. However,notwithstanding that Inia lives in fresh water, it has a richly lobulated kidney with215 renculi.
We plan to present more data in a forthcoming paper on other organs of thesame species and to discuss more thoroughly the possible significance of the seahabhat vs. the river-habitat concerning the relative size of those organs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are greatly indebted to Mr. R. L. Brownell, Jr., Department of Vertebrate
Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., who arranged for us to collect materials and to the staff of the National
Museum of Natural History, Montevideo, who helped make this project possible.

Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst.,
No. 26, 1974

~~"'S"

:::ti
~

"""'~

~~

{:c{:{~c3900. 0 (35. 780)
3Il5.0 (28.578)

237.0 (2.174)
20. 5 (0. I 88)
43.0 (0.394)
42.0 (0.385)
0. 9 (0. 00826)
0. 7 (0.00642)
2.4 (0.0220)
20. 5 (0. 188)
0. 15 (0. 00138)

68.5 (0.628)
80.0 (0. 734)
75. 0 (0. 688)

160. Og (I. 468%)
73.5 (0.674)--~-------

4000. 0 (33. 898)
2605.0 (22.076)

0.9 (0.00763)
0. 8 (0. 006'78)
0. 5 (0. 00424)
0. 5 (0. 00424)

165. 0 (I. 398)
50. 0 (0 .424)
4.3 (0.0364)
75. 0 (0. 636)
80.0 (0.678)
145.0 (1.229)
770. 0 (6. 525)
355.0 (3.008)
41.0 (0.347)
41.0 (0.347)
43.5 (0.369)
0.4 (0.00339)
0 .6 (0 .00508)
2. 6 (0. 0220)
18.5 (0.157)

M
l l.8kg

90.5 cm

RLB. 836* calculated from the value after preservation in 10% formalin solution.
Figures in parenthesis indicate percentagt>s of body weight.

------~~-------

Blubber
Skeletal muscle

Mammary {1glandr

Ovary

Epididymis { :TestisThyroidThymus
Pituitary

AdrenalKidneyStomachIntestine
Liver
Pancreas

Lung

Brain
Heart
SpleenM
10.9kg84.5cm

RLB. 838

0. 15* (0.00103)
0.15* (0.00103)

30. O* (0. 207)

100.0* (0.690)
1.7* (0.0117)
95. O* (0. 655)
120. O* (0. 828)
100. O* (0. 690)
360. O* (2. 483)
280.0* (I .931)
18.0* (0.124)
62. O* (0. 428)
53. O* (0. 366)
1.2* (0.00828)
1. 2 * (0 . 00828)

F
14.5 kg

98.5 cm

RLB. 812---·---------

4450. 0 (30. 690)
5000.0 (34.483)

0. 2 (0. 00138)
0.2 (0.00138)

180.0 (1.241)
68.5 (0.472)
I. 0 (0. 00690)
81. 5 (0. 562)
83. 5 (0. 576)
230. 0 ( 1.586)
800.0 (5.517)
380.0 (2.621)
32. I (0.221)
56. 0 (0. 386)
58.5 (0.403)
0. 7 (0.00483)
0. 7 (0.00483)
2.0 (0.0138)

M
14.5kg105.0 cm

RLB. 805-- -· ---

Continued ...

-· - ·----

5600.0 (27.451)

0. 2 (0. 000980)
0.2 (0.000980)

90.0 (0.441)
105.0 (0.515)
300.0 (1.471)
1250.0 (6. 127)570.0 (2.794)
62.0 (0.304)
72.3 (0.354)
72. 0 (0. 353)
1.0 (0.00490)
1.1 (0. 00539)

130. 0 (0. 637)F
20.4kg120.0 cm

RLB. 801

BODY LENGTH, BODY WEIGHT AND ORGAN WEIGHTS OF 14 SPECIMENS OF PONTOPORIA BLAINVILLEI.

~~~~--~--~~-

Sex
Body weight

Specimen field
numberBody length·°'..... ~~·TABLE 1.

~~~"":::ti---..)

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7250.0 (31.385)
8630.0 (37.359)

0.5 (0.00216)
0.4 (0.00173)
0.6 (0.00260)
0.5 (0.00216)

1250. 0 (5. 411)
650. 0 (2. 814)
58. 0 (0. 251)
72.0 (0.312)
73.0 (0.316)
0. 6 (0. 00260)
0. 7 (0. 00303)
3.0 (0.0130)
13.5 (0.0584)

8'610.0 (33.898)
8700. 0 (34. 252)

0.25(0.000984)
0. 2 (0. 000787)

215.0 (0.846)
130.0 (0.512)
4.2 (0.0165)
145 .0 (0 .571)
175.0 (0.689)
350.0 (1.378)
1600. 0 (6. 299)
620.0 (2.441)
75. 0 (0. 295)
90.0 (0.354)
88.0 (0.346)
1.1 (0.00433)
1.1 (0.00433)
3.7 (0.0146)
21 . 5 (0. 0846)
0.2 (0.000787)

Figures in parenthesis indicate percentages of body weight.

3.2 (0.0108)
3.2 (0.0108)
3.8 (0.0129)
3.2 (0.0108)

3.2 (0.0108)
8.5 (0.0288)

145.0 (0.492)
5.3 (0.0180)
173.0 (0.586)
235. 0 (0. 797)
500. 0 (1. 695)
1400.0 (4.746)
850. 0 (2 .881)
62. 0 (0. 210)120.0 (0.407)
115.0 (0.390)

9130.0 (30.949)
10300.0 (34.915)* calculated from the value after preservation in 10% formalin solution.

Blubber
Skeletal muscle

Mammary {lglandr

Ovary

Epididymis { ~Testis

Thyroid
Thymus
Pituitary

AdrenalKidneyStomachIntestine
Liver
PancreasLung

150.0g(0.649)
5.4 (0.0234)
150.0 (0.649)
160.0 (0.693)--------

8350. 0 (29 .196)
10400.0 (36.364)

0 .15 (0. 000524)
0. 20 (0. 000699)

140.0 (0.490)
4.3 (0.0150)
110.0 (0.385)
140.0 (0.490)
450.0 (1.573)
2150.0 (7.517)
700.0 (2.448)
63. 5 (0. 222)
95.5 (0.334)
91.0 (0.318)
1. 3 (0. 00455)
1.3 (0.00455)
6.0 (0.0210)
48.5 (0.170)

F
28.6 kg

M
29.5kgM
23.1 kg

BrainHeart
Spleen132.0 cm131.5 cm

130.0 cm

123.0 cm

Sex
Body weightF
25.4 kg

RLB. 802

RLB. 808

RLB. 818

RLB. 807

Continued.

Specimen fieldnumber
Body length

TABLE I.

Continued ...

8530.0 (29.414)
10140.0 (34.966)

0.2 (0.000690)
0. 25 (0. 000862)

230.0 (0. 793)
150.0 (0.517)
2 .8 (0.00966)
125.0 (0.431)
175.0 (0.603)
410.0 (1.414)
1700. 0 (5. 862)
800.0 (2. 759)
91. 0 (0. 314)
100. 0 (0. 345)
87 .0 (0.300)
1.1 (0.00379)
1.0 (0.00345)
3.0 (0.0103)
37 .o (0.128)
0 .15 (0. 000517)

F
29.0kg136.0 cm

RLB. 870>-<(f1~~>>~tJ~>z~>-<~>

00°'""

~"''~::0"""'~~~·°'.... ~~ :--·""::0~~

{~ccc

{~'"

8650. 0 (26 .133)
12700.0 (38.369)

2.0 (0.00604)
0. 3 (0. 000906)
14. 6 (0. 0441)
17 .9 (0.0541)---------------

10170.0 (28.729)
17200.0 (48.588)

12250.0 (26.982)
18400.0 (40.529)

4.8 (0.0106)
1. 6 (0. 00352)
220. 0 (0. 485)220.0 (0.485)

13320.0 (25.52)
22070.0 (42.28)

6.3 (0.0121)
0.8 (0.00153)
270.0 (0.517)
300.0 (0.575)

0.4 (0.000766)

5 .3 (0. 0102)

250.0 (0.479)
260. 0 (0. 498)
3. 4*(0. 00651)
300. 0 (0. 575)
350.0 (0.670)
800 .o (1.533)
2600.0 (4.981)
1350. 0*(2. 586)
110. O*(O. 211)205. 0 (0 .452)
235.0 (0.518)
7 .0 (0.0154)
315.0 (0.694)
255. 0 (0. 562)
750 .0 (1.652)
2400. 0 (5. 286)
1150. 0 (2. 533)
135. 0 (0. 297)
150. 0 (0. 330)
145.0 (0.319)
1. 3 (0 . 00286)
1.3 (0.00286)
5.6 (0.0123)
37 .2 (0.0819)
0. 6 (0. 00132)

240.0 (0.678)
170. 0 (0. 480)
3.5 (0.00989)
235. 0 (0 .664)
260.0 (0. 734)
500.0 (1.412)
2050.0 (5.791)
900.0 (2.542)
95. 0 (0. 268)
120.0 (0.339)
115.0 (0.325)
1.6 (0 .00452)
1. 2 (0. 00339)
5.0 (0.0141)
36.0 (0.102)
0.3 (0.000847)
4.1 (0.0116)
3 .5 (0 .00989)
1.2 (0.00339)
1. 4 (0. 00395)

235. Og (0. 710)
170.0 (0.514)
4.5 (0.0136)
160.0 (0.483)
165,0 (0.498)
500.0 (1.511)
2000.0 (6.042)
950.0 (2.870)
100. 0 (0. 302)
137 .0 (0.414)
125. 0 (0. 378)
1. 4 (0. 00423)
6.1 (0.0184)
50.0 (0.151)

F
52.2 kg

171.0 cm

RLB. 803

F45.4kg

160.0 cm

RLB. 837

M35.4kg

144.5 cm

RLB. 835F
33.1 kg

143.5 cm

RLB. 822* calculated from the value after preservation in 10% formalin solution.
Figures in prenthesis indicate percentages of body weight.

Blubber
Skeletal muscle___ ___

Mammary {lglandrOvary

Epididymis { ~Testis

ThyroidThymus
Pituitary

AdrenalKidneyStomachIntestine
Liver
Pancreas

Lung

Brain
Heart
SpleenSex
Body weight

Specimen field
numberBoday length

TABLE 1. Continued.

<.CNlCl>
M

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......

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"d0>-".]

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......

~~0270

KAMIYA AND YAMASAKITABLE 2.

BODY LENGTH, BODY WEIGHT AND ORGAN WEIGHTS OF
4 SPECIMENS OF PLATANISTA GANGETICA.

Specimen field
numberBody length

No. 16

No. 18

No. 19No. 20120.5 cm

126.0 cm

122.0 cm

199.0 cmSex
Body weightF
17.0kgF
17 .Okg

M
22.5 kg

M
84.0kg47.6 (0. 280)

49.6 (0.220)
1. 7 (0.00756)
114.0 (0.507)
131.0 (0 .582)

210.9 (0 .251)
8.4 (0.010)
700.0 (0.833)
610.0 (0. 726)

300.0 (1.333)
10.2 (0.0453)
26.2 (0. 116)
27.8 (0.124)

1120.0 (1. 333)
34.3 (0.0408)
109.0 (0. 130)101.5 (0.121)
3.6 (0.00429)
3.2 (0.00381)

Brain
Heart
SpleenLung{~

StomachIntestine
Liver
Pancreas
KidneyAdrenal{~{~236.0 g (1.388%)
40.0* (0.235)
3.0* (0.0176)
170.0* (I.OOO)
154. O* (0. 906)
308. O* (1. 812)
460.0* (2. 706)
15.0* (0.0882)
45. O* (0. 265)
42.0* (0.247)

ThyroidThymus
Pituitary
Testis

101.8 (0. 599)
100.8 (0. 593)

420.0 (2.471)
30.7 (0.181)
36.2 (0.213)
0.3 (0.00176)
0. 6 (0. 00352)
1. 0 (0. 00588)

0.5 (0.00222)
3.0 (0.0133){~

520.0 (0. 619)
590.0 (0.702)

Epididymis { ~Ovary{~

0. 4* (0. 00235)
0. 4* (0. 00235)

0.8 (0.00471)
0.8 (0.00471)

Mammary {1glandr* calculated from the value after preservation in 10% formalin solution.
Figures in parenthesis indicate percentages of body weight.

Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst.,
No. 26, 1971