The La Plata dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is found off the southeastern Atlantic shores of South America. It was first described in 1844 from a specimen found in the Río de la Plata estuary from which it gets its name. It is also known as the Franciscana, possibly from the order of Franciscan monks, who were early pioneers from Europe to settle in Uruguay. In some places it is also called the Cachimbo and Toninha in different areas of its range.