Australian nudge dolphin

Australian nudge dolphin
	Australian snub-fin dolphin, characteristic is the short fin.
Systematics
Order :	Whales (cetacea)
Subordination :	Toothed whales (Odontoceti)
Superfamily :	Dolphin-like (Delphinoidea)
Family :	Dolphins (Delphinidae)
Genre :	Orcaella
Type :	Australian nudge dolphin
Scientific name
	Orcaella heinsohni
	Beasley , Robertson & Arnold , 2005

Distribution of the Australian snub fin dolphin (blue), possible distribution (yellow)

The Australian Stupsfinnendelfin (also Stupsflossendelfin, Orcaella heinsohni ) is a dolphin , which only in 2005 was described by then with the closely related Irrawaddy dolphin ( Orcaella brevirostris ) as conspecific was considered. However, there are clear distinguishing features, and the species status has also been confirmed by genetic studies. The fact that this species remained undiscovered for so long is due to its shyness of people and boats , from which, unlike other dolphin species, it stays away. After the short Finn , the first descriptors named the species Australian snubfin dolphin .

features

In contrast to the two-colored Irrawaddy Dolphin, the Australian Snub-Finned Dolphin is three-colored. In addition to the blue-gray body color with a pale belly, Australian snub fin dolphins have a dark cape on their backs. The areas are not clearly delimited from one another. There are also differences in the shape of the skull and fins of the two species. The species status could also be justified by analyzing the genetic make-up. The males reach a body length of around 270 centimeters, the females 210 centimeters.

distribution

In Australian waters near Townsville , the first descriptors were able to detect around 200 animals. It is believed that the range of the species extends from northeast Australia to Papua New Guinea .

swell

Isabel Beasley, Kelly M. Robertson, Peter Arnold: Description of a new dolphin, the Australian Snubfin Dolphin Orcaella heinsohni sp. n. (Cetacea, Delphinidae) . In: Marine Mammal Science . tape 21 , no. 3 , 2005, p. 365-400 (English).

Web links

Commons : Australian Snubby Dolphin - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Orcaella heinsohni inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Endangered Species . Posted by: Reeves, RR, Jefferson, TA, Karczmarski, L., Laidre, K., O'Corry-Crowe, G., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, ER, Slooten, E., Smith, BD, Wang, JY & Zhou, K., 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2013.