Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
It has been suggested that Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
| Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin[1] | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
|
||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Tursiops aduncus Ehrenberg, 1833 |
The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) is a species of Bottlenose Dolphin. The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin grows to 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) long, and weigh up to 230 kilograms (510 lb).[3] It lives in the waters around India, northern Australia, South China, the Red Sea, and the eastern coast of Africa.[3] Its back is dark-grey and belly is lighter grey or nearly white with grey spots. [3]
Until 1998, all Bottlenose Dolphins were considered members of the single species T. truncatus. In that year, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin was recognized as a separate species.[4] The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is generally smaller than the Common Bottlenose Dolphin, has a proportionately longer rostrum, and has spots on its belly and lower sides.[4][5] The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin also has more teeth than the Common Bottlenose Dolphin — 23 to 29 teeth on each side of each jaw for the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, compared to 21 to 24 for the Common Bottlenose Dolphin.[5] There is evidence that the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin may actually be more closely related to certain dolphin species in the genera Stenella and Delphinus, especially the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (S. frontalis), than it is to the Common Bottlenose Dolphin.[4][6]
Much of the old scientific data in the field combine data about the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin and the Common Bottlenose Dolphin into a single group, making it effectively useless in determining the structural differences between the two species. The IUCN lists both species as data deficient in their Red List of endangered species because of this issue.[7]
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins live in groups that can number in the hundreds, but groups of 5 to 15 dolphins are most common.[5] In some parts of their range they associate with the Common Bottlenose Dolphin.[5] It also associates with other dolphin species, such as the humpback dolphin.[5]
The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin has a peak mating and calving season in spring and summer, although mating and calving occur throughout the year in some regions. Gestation period is about 12 months. Calves are between 0.84 and 1.5 metres (2.8 and 4.9 ft) long, and weigh between 9 and 21 kilograms (20 and 46 lb). The calves are weaned between 1.5 and 2 years, but can remain with their mother for up to 5 years. The interbirth interval for females is typically 4 to 6 years.[3]
In some parts of its range, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is subject to predation by sharks.[5] The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin can live more than 40 years.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Mead, James G. and Robert L. Brownell, Jr (November 16, 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds). ed.. Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 723–743. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14300098.
- ^ Hammond, P.S., Bearzi, G., Bjørge, A., Forney, K., Karczmarski, L., Kasuya, T., Perrin, W.F., Scott, M.D., Wang, J.Y., Wells, R.S. & Wilson, B. (2008). Tursiops aduncus. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 7 October 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Shirihai, H. and Jarrett, B. (2006). Whales Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World. p. 159–161. ISBN 0-691-12757-3.
- ^ a b c Wells, R. and Scott, M. (2002). "Bottlenose Dolphins". in Perrin, W.; Wursig, B. and Thewissen, J.. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. p. 122–127. ISBN 0-12-551340-2.
- ^ a b c d e f Reeves, R.; Stewart, B.; Clapham, P.; Powell, J. (2002). Guide to Marine Mammals of the World. p. 362–365. ISBN 0-375-41141-0.
- ^ Leduc, R., Perrin, W. & Dizon, E. (August 18, 1998). "Phylogenetic Relationships among the Delphinid Cetaceans Based on Full Cytochrome B Sequences". Marine Mammal Science 15 (3): 619–648. doi:. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119937779/abstract. Retrieved on 5 October 2008.
- ^ "Tursiops truncatus: Species Information". IUCN. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
