The 🌊 Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, scientifically known as Sousa plumbea, is a member of the Delphinidae family and is found in the coastal waters from Southern Africa to Western Indoundefined. Previously grouped with the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), recent studies have classified them as separate species.
These dolphins typically inhabit shallow waters less than 20 meters (about 65 feet) deep, which largely dictates their habitat choice, often limiting them to specific coastal features. They are known for forming social groups with an average of twelve individuals, although the size can vary greatly. Predominantly, their diet includes sciaenid fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Unfortunately, the population faces significant challenges due to human activities such as pollution and habitat degradation, resulting in high calf and juvenile mortality rates. The species is currently classified as endangered.
The range of the 🌊 Indian Ocean humpback dolphin extends along East Africa, the Middle East, and the 🇮🇳 Indian subcontinent, with notable populations in places like the Menai Bay Conservation Area in Tanzania and along the southern coast of 🇨🇳 China. Also, significant populations have been identified along the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in 🇴🇲 Oman and the 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, where recent studies suggest one of the largest groups resides.
These dolphins range in length from 2 to 2.8 meters (about 6.6 to 9.2 feet) and weigh between 150 to 200 kilograms (330 to 440 pounds). They are distinguishable by a fatty hump on their back, contrasting with their relative, Sousa chinensis, which lacks this feature but has a more pronounced dorsal fin. While they may vary in color across regions, young dolphins are generally gray, darker on the top.
🌊 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins are social animals who live in flexible group sizes, occasionally interacting with other species like the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. Their unique surfacing pattern involves emerging at a 30- to 45-degree angle, sometimes revealing their entire head before arching their back and occasionally showing their flukes.
Due to their inclination for shallow coastal habitats, these dolphins are particularly vulnerable to threats like habitat destruction, by-catch in fishing, vessel strikes, and noise pollution. Chemical pollutants such as organochlorines have been identified as significant hazards through tissue analysis of stranded dolphins. Various countries are actively working on conservation efforts to protect these dolphins and mitigate further risks to their population.
Last Update: November 25, 2024