Mammals of the WorldIndo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin
Sousa chinensis
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Delphinidae
- Genus
- Sousa
- IUCN status
- VU
- Distribution
- Bangladesh|Brunei|Cambodia|China|India|Indonesia|Malaysia|Myanmar|Philippines|Singapore|Taiwan|Thailand|Vietnam
- Realm
- Marine
Other names: Borneo White Dolphin|Chinese White Dolphin|Lead-colored Dolphin|Plumbeous Dolphin|Ridge-backed Dolphin|Speckled Dolphin|White Dolphin|Pacific Humpback Dolphin|Indian Humpback Dolphin
About this species
Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin belongs to humpback dolphin inhabiting coastal waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. This species is often referred to as the Chinese white dolphin in mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan as a common name. Some biologists regard the Indo-Pacific dolphin as a subspecies of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (S. plumbea) which ranges from East Africa to India. (Wikipedia, general species account).
They hunt as a group using echolocation. The mother stays with her calf until it can find food for itself, usually when it reaches 3–4 years old. Members of Hong Kong Dolphinwatch spotted a group of dolphins helping a mother to support her dead calf above the water in an attempt to revive it. Echolocation is the main sense that all dolphins use to navigate, as well as to pinpoint prey and predators. (Wikipedia, general species account).
Description: Wildlife of sulawesi guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)