In 2014 the Australian humpback dolphin was recognised as a separate species to the Indo-Pacific humpback.

Figure 1. Australian humpback dolphin (Image: © Alex Brown / MUCRU)

 

Scientific name

Sousa sahulensis

Distribution

To the east of the Wallace Line including southern Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia, from Exmouth in WA to the QLD-NSW border.

Ecological suite

Marine mammal

General description

In 2014 the Australian humpback dolphin was recognised as a separate species to the Indo-Pacific humpback. As suggested by its name the Australian humpback dolphin has a hump at the base of the dorsal fin, although this is less obvious than the Indo-Pacific dolphin. There is substantial variation in colouration among populations, ranging from white to pink to grey.

Their forehead, beak and dorsal fin whiten with age, resulting in a patchy or freckly appearance. With age, the dorsal fin becomes softer and more rounded and in some older animals, develops a floppy tip.

They are generally slow swimmers. Sometimes however, they chase each other around in circles at high speed, and researchers suggest this may be courtship behaviour. Rarely known to bow ride, they do breach, lobtail and even somersault on occasions. They may also be seen swimming on one side while waving with one flipper!

Their inshore habitats are often turbid waters, making sound production and reception crucial for navigation and social contact. In addition to their high frequency echolocation clicks, they are highly vocal, producing whistles and screams, singly or in sequence and of varying length.

 

Other names

Humpbacked dolphin

Habitat

An ‘inshore’ species that live in shallow, near shore water, often associated with river mouths, mangroves, tidal channels and inshore reefs.

Colour

An ‘inshore’ species that live in shallow, near shore water, often associated with river mouths, mangroves, tidal channels and inshore reefs.

Size

Grows to 2.7 m in length

Diet

Opportunistic feeders that eat a wide variety of near shore, estuarine and reef fish and the occasional crustacean.

Threats

IUCN status: Near Threatened

Threats to Australian humpback dolphins include habitat destruction and degradation from urban and coastal developments, noise pollution, boating activities – particularly close to population centres, and incidental capture in shark nets, trawl nets, drift nets and ghost nets.

Organochlorine pollution from agricultural areas, and pathogens (bacteria and viruses) that can have an amplified impact when pollution and food shortages are also present.

Overfishing of prey species and illegal killing are also threats.