Maui's dolphin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
Maui's dolphin
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Eutheria
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Cephalorhynchus
Species: C. hectori
Subspecies: maui
Trinomial name
Cephalorhynchus hectori maui

Maui's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) are known to be the world's smallest dolphin. They are a sub-species of the Hector's dolphin.

They are only found throughout the West Coast of New Zealand's North Island, and are among that country's rarest such species. As of 2008, fewer than 110 of these remain in the world because off the amount off fishing net's in there area. Maui's dolphins are generally found close to shore in groups or pods of several dolphin. They are often seen in water less than 20 metres deep but may also range further off shore. Females grow to 1.7 metres long and weigh up to 50 kg. Males are slightly smaller and lighter. Maui’s and Hector's are the only dolphins with a well-rounded black dorsal fin. The dolphins are known to live up to 20 years.

Contents

[edit] Physical description

Distinctive grey, white and black markings and a short snout. They are most easily recognised by their round dorsal fin. Maui's dolphins are generally found close to shore in groups or pods of several dolphins. Most of their time is spent feeding, while it also observed to play, for example with seaweed, chase other dolphins, blow bubbles, fight and jump.Solidly built body with a gently sloping snout and a unique rounded (mickey mouse ear shaped) dorsal fin.

[edit] Population and distribution

Fishing has had an adverse effect on the Maui’s dolphin population in the past. Some commercial set net fishers have acknowledged that they have occasionally caught Maui’s dolphin by accident in the past. People have often been seeing Maui's dolphin at river mouths. Not very many have ever been spotted in different parts of New Zealand

They are classed by the Department of Conservation in the New Zealand Threat Classification System as "Nationally Critical".

[edit] References

[edit] External links