Fitzroy’s dolphin
The dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus ) is a dolphin found in coastal waters in the Southern Hemisphere. Its specific epithet is Latin for "dark" or "dim". It is very closely genetically related to the Pacific white-sided dolphin, but current scientific consensus holds they are distinct species. The dolphin's range is patchy, with major populations around South America, southwestern Africa, New Zealand, and various oceanic islands, with some sightings around southern Australia and Tasmania. The dusky dolphin prefers cool currents and inshore waters, but can also be found offshore. It feeds on a variety of fish and squid species and has flexible hunting tactics. The dusky dolphin is known for its remarkable acrobatics, having a number of aerial behaviours. The status of the dolphin is unknown, but it has been commonly caught in gill nets.
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Di
DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Pi
PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
Aq
AquaticAn aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract ...
Pr
PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
Na
NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Po
PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
So
SocialNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
D
starts withOriginally named as 'Fitzroy’s dolphin' by Charles Darwin, this animal is a comparatively small and compact species of dolphin. The back and tail of the Dusky dolphin are dusky bluish-black in color, exhibiting a dark streak, which stretches diagonally across the flanks to the tail. The animal is a close relative of the Pacific White Sided dolphin. Nevertheless, scientific studies have found a number of differences between these two, which allows to classify them as two separate species. One of the most identifying features of the Dusky dolphin is the lack of beak as well as the evenly sloping head from the blowhole to the tip of the snout. Both males and females have a dorsal fin, which is more curved in males. Both sexes are almost the same in size.
These dolphins occur off the coast of South America (though they have also be seen close to Argentina and around the Falkland Islands), South-Western Africa and New Zealand. The animals typically inhabit warm to cool temperate waters and can be found at coastal regions.
Behavior and habits of these dolphins greatly depends of species as well as area of habitat. As a general rule, Dusky dolphins remain close to the shore. By day, the animals rest in small groups of 10 - 20 dolphins. At dusk, they travel in these groups away from the shore in order to feed, gathering into large pods of up to 1.000 dolphins, consisting of both males and females. They usually prey in these large groups, encircling shoals of fish. After feeding, these highly sociable and playful animals can often be observed grooming and leaping together. Then, they regroup into smaller pods, returning to the seashore, where they rest. These dolphins communicate through squeals, whistles, clicks and squeaks, emitting loud calls, heard from a distance of up to 2 miles, when the animals are out of the water.
As a carnivorous (piscivorous) species, Dusky dolphin consumes a wide variety of aquatic species, including squid, schooling shrimps, anchovy and fish.
These dolphins have polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system. Usually, males of this species fiercely defend their mating rights, competing with each other. Mating season occurs in spring while gestation period lasts for 11 months, yielding a single baby, most often between June and August. The female suckles the offspring, until, at around 18 months old, the young learns to hunt with its mother. During the first 3 years of their lives, young dolphins usually remain with their mother, after which they leave the female, who is able to mate again. Leaving, young dolphins find their own pods with males, often joining bachelor groups. They become sexually mature at about 4 - 5 years old.
Currently, the Dusky dolphins greatly suffer from commercial fishing, disturbing their natural habitat. On the other hand, these dolphins compete for food with fishermen (particularly, for shoaling fish). Moreover, they are often caught in vast nets. In certain areas of their habitat such Peru, these dolphins are hunted for their meat. The animals are also frequently hit by boats, which causes severe injuries.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Dusky dolphin is unknown. However, there are estimated populations of the species in the following areas: Patagonian cost - 7,252 individuals; between Punta Ninfas and Cabo Blanco (Argentina) - 6,628 individuals. Currently, Dusky dolphins are classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...