Orcaella heinsohni
Australian Snubfin Dolphin
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Cetacea
Family
Delphinidae
Genus
Orcaella
Species
Orcaella heinsohni
Status
near threatened
Colours
Distinguishing features
It is subtly tri-coloured: brownish on the top, lighter brown along the sides, and a white belly; the Irrawaddy Dolphin, on the other hand, is uniformly slate grey except for the white belly. The new species has a rounded forehead, very unlike other dolphin species in Australia, and the very small, "snubby" dorsal fin distinguishes it from other dolphins in its range. The lack of a groove on each side of the back and the presence of a neck crease further distinguishes this species from its relative.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
The range of the species is expected along Australia's north-east coast through to Papua New Guinea; that is, they are endemic to the northern half of the Sahul Shelf, but that the majority live in Australian waters. (Wikipedia)
