Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Sousa
Species: chinensis
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Coastal along the rim of the Indian Ocean. Atlantic species is found along the coast of Africa.
Status
ESA Candidate Species – Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin
MMPA – all marine mammals are protected under the MMPA
CITES Appendix I – throughout its range
LENGTH (maximum): 8-9 Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 370-570 lbs
RELATIVE SPECIES: Bottlenose, Irrawaddy
OTHER NAMES: Atlantic Humpback, Indo-Pacific Humpback
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Bottlenose dolphins, pantropical dolphins
PREDATORS: Humans
THREATS: Taken for food in Africa. Are killed by pollution, habitat degradation and collisions from vessels.
DIET: Small fish, squid and octopus.
MANNER OF FEEDING: Preys on species that live on the ocean bottom. Likes to follow trawlers and feed on injured or dsicarded fish and squid.
BEHAVIOR: Groups of 3-8. Likes to breach and slap the surface with their flippers. Shy of boats and does not bow ride, but regularly follows trawlers.
REPRODUCTION: Gestation is 10-12 months. Calving occurs every 3 years. Calves are weaned at about 2 years.
LIFE SPAN: 40 years
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Adults can be entirely pink.
- There are at least 2 subspecies, but others think that a third should be classified.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
From NOAA
-TSF-
