Tursiops aduncus

(Ehrenberg, 1832)

Vernacular names
English : Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
French : Grand dauphin de l’océan Indien

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetartiodactyla
Family : Delphinidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows to 270 cm in total length for a weight of 230 kg. Robust body, moderate-length bill, tall slightly falcate dorsal fin. Melon less convex than T. truncatus and bill thinner and longer. Belly paler, flanks and back dark grey.

Range and habitat
This species is found in the coastal areas of the Indian and west Pacific Oceans, from east African coasts to Japan, south to Indonesia and Australia. Lives in coastal areas in warm temperate and tropical waters, less than 200 m deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is still widespread but getting rarer. Some isolated island populations are now highly threatened by habitat loss and mortality by bycatch.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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