Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Ordo: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Eutheria
Cohort: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Ordo: Artiodactyla
Subordo: Whippomorpha
Infraordo: Cetacea
Cladus: Neoceti
Parvordo: Odontoceti
Cladus: Delphinida
Superfamilia: Delphinoidea
Familia: Delphinidae
Genus: Sousa
Species: Sousa teuszii
Name
Sousa teuszii (Kükenthal, 1892)
References
Sousa teuszii in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
Sousa teuszii – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Atlantic Humpback Dolphin, Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin
suomi: Afrikankyttyrädelfiini
magyar: Nyugat-afrikai púposdelfin
日本語: アフリカウスイロイルカ
svenska: Kamerundelfin
Türkçe: Atlantik kambur yunusu
The Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) is a species of humpback dolphin that is found in coastal areas of West Africa.
It is regarded as critically endangered by the IUCN.[1]
Apart from its geographical range, it is distinguishable from other humpback dolphins by its amount of vertebrae (e.g. one less than the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin) and its number of teeth (26 to 31 pairs).[3] They can also be distinguished by a robust body with a well-defined rostrum. They are typically slate gray on the back and sides, fading to light gray ventrally. The dorsal fin is small, slightly falcate, and triangular, and sits on a distinctive and well developed dorsal hump.
Birth weight – at least 22 lb (10 kg)
Adult weight – 550-630 lb (250–285 kg) [4]
Behavior and diet
This species is known to be shy; it does not bow-ride and aerial displays are rarely seen. The groups usually range from 1-8 animals, but gatherings of up to 20-40 animals have been observed. In Angola and Guinea, some individuals appear to exhibit high site fidelity and strong association patterns. [4]
Groups generally forage close to shore in shallow waters and often within the surf zone. They appear to feed mainly on inshore schooling fish such as mullet, though a variety of coastal fish and crustacean species are also known prey items. These dolphins tend to feed in small bays, sheltered waters behind reef-breaks and in areas off dry river mouths, while traveling occurs mainly along exposed coastlines.[4]
Range and habitat
This species is endemic to the tropical to subtropical west coast of Africa in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from western Sahara to Angola. It is mainly found in shallow coastal and estuarine waters, usually less than 66 feet (20 m) deep.[4]
Interaction with humans
The Atlantic humpback dolphin is known to engage in cooperative fishing with Mauritanian Imraguen fishermen, by driving fish towards the shore and into their nets.[5][3] Incidental capture in gill nets is considered their greatest threat followed by directed takes, habitat loss and degradation, overfishing, marine pollution, anthropogenic sound, and climate change.[4]
See also
Cetaceans portal iconMammals portal Marine life portal
List of cetaceans
References
Collins, T.; Braulik, G.T. & Perrin, W. (2018) [errata version of 2017 assessment]. "Sousa teuszii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T20425A123792572.
"Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
"Atlantic Humpback Dolphin - Sousa teuszii - Details - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life.
Berta, Annalisa, editor. Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide. University of Chicago Press, 2015.
"Atlantic humpback dolphin".
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