Mammalia > Artiodactyla > Delphinidae > Sousa
Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765) – Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin
Taxonomic Notes:
Also known as Chinese White Dolphin.
Once this species was considered as a widespread but highly variable species in Indian as well as Pacific Ocean. Many recent morphological and molecular studies have confirmed that the species is infact a species complex and some of its distinct populations are now treated as separate species. Genus Sousa (Humpback Dolphins) now contains 4 species viz. S. chinensis (Indo-Pacific), plumbea (Indian Ocean), sahulensis (Australian) and teuszii (Atlantic).
This species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).
Once this species was considered as a widespread but highly variable species in Indian as well as Pacific Ocean. Many recent morphological and molecular studies have confirmed that the species is infact a species complex and some of its distinct populations are now treated as separate species. Genus Sousa (Humpback Dolphins) now contains 4 species viz. S. chinensis (Indo-Pacific), plumbea (Indian Ocean), sahulensis (Australian) and teuszii (Atlantic).
This species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).Juveniles:
Indian and global distribution:
records (based on images):
Identification:
Sexual, seasonal & individual variation:
Status, Habitat and Habits:
Conservation Status:
This species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).
According to IUCN Red List assessment, the population of ths species is decreasing. There are no accurate estimates of its global population available, but it is estimated to be between 2500 and 10,000 mature individuals inclusive of all subpopulations. The major threats to its survival come from various anthropogenic activities such as marine resourece extraction, oceanic transport, overfishing, hunting, occassional trapping into fishing nets and marine water pollution.
Conservation Status:
This species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).According to IUCN Red List assessment, the population of ths species is decreasing. There are no accurate estimates of its global population available, but it is estimated to be between 2500 and 10,000 mature individuals inclusive of all subpopulations. The major threats to its survival come from various anthropogenic activities such as marine resourece extraction, oceanic transport, overfishing, hunting, occassional trapping into fishing nets and marine water pollution.
References:
Mammalia > Artiodactyla > Delphinidae > Sousa
Cite this page along with its URL as:
Bayani, A. 2023. Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765) – Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin. A. Bayani, R. Chakravarty, P. Roy, and K. Kunte (editors). Mammals of India, v. 1.13. editors.
http://www.mammalsofindia.org/sp/736/Sousa-chinensis
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