Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

 
  Library>China ABC>Fauna Flora>Introduction and Regulations>Class I Animals>Mammalia
 
 
 
Indo-pacific Hump-backed Dolphin

 

Also known as the Chinese White Dolphin, the Speckled Dolphin, or the Pink Dolphin, it belongs to the Platanistidae family of Cetacea order. Its Latin scientific name is Sousa chinensis, and English name is Indo-pacific Hump-backed Dolphin.

The whole body of the adult ones is milky white, so it gets the name White Fin. Both the belly and tail are pink. Many anomalous grayish black spots are spreading on the back, body sides, dorsal fin, fin limb back and tail fin back. Its body back is gray, and the belly is in lighter color.

They frequently take a rest and gather in offshore beach of estuarine, and prey on fishes along sea area with reefs. Mostly 3 to 7 heads form a group. Sometimes they leave ocean and go against the river up to tens of kilometers to chase fish.

In China,it is mainly distributed in southeast coastal regions, Xiamen City of Fujian Province, Zhujiang of Guangdong Province and surrounding sea areas of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It belongs to rare marine animals and has been listed in Appendix I ofInternational Trade Convention on Endangered Wild Animal and Plant Species. It is the mascot on the event of Hong Kong's returning to China in 1997. In Xiamen City of Fujian Province, a nature reserve for White Fin at national level has been established; in Zhujiang Estuarine of Guangdong Province, a nature reserve for White Fin at provincial level has also been established; and Hong Kong SAR government has established a nature reserve for it in Hong Kong, too.

 
 
Email to Friends
Print
Save