Australian snubfin dolphin

Australian snubfin dolphin
Australian snubfin dolphin surfacing
Size compared to an average human

Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcaella
Species:
O. heinsohni
Binomial name
Orcaella heinsohni
Beasley, Robertson & Arnold, 2005
  Known distribution

  Suspected distribution
Question marks indicate areas where snubnosed dolphins have not been recorded but might occur.

The Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) is a dolphin found off the northern coasts of Australia. It closely resembles the Irrawaddy dolphin (of the same genus, Orcaella) and was not described as a separate species until 2005. The closest relative to the genus Orcaella is the killer whale, Orcinus orca. The Australian snubfin has three colors on its skin, while the Irrawaddy dolphin only has two. The skull and the fins also show minor differences between the two species.

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