The Australian humpback dolphin
(Sousa sahulensis)
Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Sousa
The Australian humpback dolphins are medium-sized delphinids that can be found in coastal waters of northern Australia and Southern Guinea.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Sousa
The Australian humpback dolphins are medium-sized delphinids that can be found in coastal waters of northern Australia and Southern Guinea.
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In Australia humpback dolphins occur from approximately the Queensland – New South Wales border to Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia although few sightings have been reported as far south as Shark Bay. Within this range humpback dolphins are found primarily in inshore coastal waters with preference for estuaries, coastal inlets and bays.
In Australia Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins measure and weight up to 2.80 m 280 kg respectively. The dorsal fin is short, slightly curved and triangular in shape while the prominent hump, typical features of the other regions, is absent. Adults are pale grey, with a dorsal fin, rostrum and melon that whiten with age. Calves are mostly dark grey above with a lighter ventral surface. |
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Humpback dolphins are opportunistic-generalist feeders preying on primarily on fish associated with shallow, inshore and estuarine habitats while cephalopods, decapods and bivalves represent only a small fraction of the diet.
Due to their coastal and estuarine distribution, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are particularly vulnerable to human activities in and adjacent to coastal areas. At the present, humpback dolphin is classified as “Near Threatened” under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992, and listed as migratory species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Due to their coastal and estuarine distribution, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are particularly vulnerable to human activities in and adjacent to coastal areas. At the present, humpback dolphin is classified as “Near Threatened” under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992, and listed as migratory species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.