Australian Snubfin Dolphin

(Orcaella heinsohni)

Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcaella

The Australian snubfin dolphin formerly known as Irrawaddy dolphin (O. brevirostris) was recognized as separate species in 2005. Their distribution is restricted to tropical and subtropical coastal waters of Australia and possibly Papua New Guinea (Beasley et al. 2005). In Australia, snubfin dolphins are found from Broome, Western Australia, to the Fitzroy River, Queensland. In Queensland snubfin dolphins are found primarily  incoastal and shallow waters, especially near rivers mouths.

Australian snubfin dolphins reach a total length of 2.30 m in females and 2.70 m in males and weight up to 114 and 133 kg respectively. The main distinctive features are a rounded head with no beak, a distinct neck crease and a small dorsal fin situated in the latter half of the body. The coloration of the body has a three-tone colour pattern: a distinct dark brown dorsal cape, light brown lateral field, and white abdominal field.

These animals are generalist feeder, potential preys include fishes, squid, cuttlefish, octopus and shrimps, all species associated with shallow, inshore and estuarine habitats.

Conservation assessment and management of snubfin dolphins is currently hampered by the lack of adequate biological and ecological information. Due to this lack of information, snubfin dolphin remain listed as “near threatened” in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 and as “migratory” under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.