by: Nicole Le Boeuf
The Altantic humpbacked dolphin is named for the dorsal fin which sits on top of a hump or ridge along the animal's back. There is no known translation of its scientific name.
These animals can vary in color, but are generally slate gray on its sides with lighter gray coloration underneath. Sometimes they are observed to have a speckled or spotted appearance. It looks very similar to its close relative, the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin.
This dolphin reaches a length of approximately 2.8 m and a weight of around 280 kg. There may be some differences between the sexes, but too little is known to be certain. At birth, calves are about one meter long.
They can be found in estuarine habitats, coastal waters, and some rivers. This animal's range extends across West Africa from Mauritania south to Cameroon. This species has been poorly studied and may also live in Northern Angolan waters.
The Altantic humpbacked dolphin could be easily confused with the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin if not for their so distinct geographic ranges. However, they are often mistaken for bottlenose dolphins that reside in the same waters. When they surface to breathe, they make a high roll out of the water exposing their rostrum and head before re-entering the water with another distinctive rolling motion.
They are taken by beach seines and shark nets in Senegal. In some regions, the African natives are protective of them and use these dolphins to assist them in fishing. For example, off the coast of Mauritania, the local people use beach seine and the cooperation of Atlantic humpbacked dolphins to catch mullet. Although stranded animals have been known to be used for food and oil, but there is some direct capture off of West Africa for human consumption.
Insufficiently known.
Jefferson, T.A., Curry, B.E., Leatherwood, S. and J.A. Powell. 1997. Dolphins and porpoises of West Africa: A review of records (Cetacea: Delphinidae, Phocoenidae). Mammalia, v61 i1 pp 87-108 (22).
URL for this page: http://csiwhalesalive.org/csihumpbacked.html