by: Nicole Le Boeuf
Although there is no known translation of the word Sousa, the species name, chinensis refers to China which is part of this animal's range. The common name comes from the hump or ridge along the animal's back on which the dorsal fin sits.
Members of this species vary in appearance with some being freckled with spots and other not, as well as some having a less-pronounced or absent hump. However, males tend to have larger humps than females that may even extend onto the tail stock. Coloration also varies with age. For example, in South Africa, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin calves are reported to be born almost white and fade to dark gray as they get older. Their bodies are robust, and they have a visible beak.
Maximum recorded lengths for this species are at about 2.5 m for females and 3.2 m for males. At birth, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins are about one meter long. This species has been recorded to weigh up to 285 kg.
At the western, end of their range, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins, can be found on the entire eastern and southern coast of Africa including around Madagascar. They are found in coastal waters and may also inhabit rivers, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. In South African waters, they are rarely found more than 1 km offshore.
Although, most life history information known on this animal is incomplete, this species is well-studied in South African waters by means of photo-identification. It has also been observed that the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin travels in groups of less than 10 individuals. South African populations tend to mate and give birth year-round, but have a peak calving season in summer. Like the Altantic humpbacked dolphin, this species makes a high roll out of the water when surfacing to breathe.
Insufficiently known.
Jefferson, T.A., Curry, B.E., Leatherwood, S. and J.A. Powell. 1997. Dolphins and porpoises of West Africa: A review of records (Cetacea: Delphinidae, Phocoenidae). Mammalia, v61 i1 pp 87-108 (22).
Parsons E C M. Felley M L. Porter L J. An annotated checklist of cetaceans recorded from Hong Kong's territorial waters. Asian Marine Biology 12(0). 1995 (1996). 79-100.
Research: Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in Richards Bay
URL for this page: http://csiwhalesalive.org/csiindo-pacific.html