Hector's Dolphin
Hectors dolphin at Kaikoura, New Zealand 2000. Photo by Wikipedia editor Malene Thyssen (Malene). Size comparison against an average human
Conservation status
Critically endangered (IUCN)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Eutheria Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae Genus: Cephalorhynchus Species: C. hectori
Binomial name
Cephalorhynchus hectori Van Beneden, 1881
Hector's Dolphin range

Hector's Dolphin or White-headed Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) is the most well-known of the four dolphins in the genus Cephalorhynchus. At about 1.4 m in length, it is one of the smallest cetaceans. ImageMetadata File history File links Hectors_delfin. ... A Wikipedia editor or Wikipedian is a person who has contributed changes to the articles of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit. ... Image File history File links Hector's_dolphin_size. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn2. ... . ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Orders[1] Bobolestes Eomaia Maelestes Montanalestes Murtoilestes Prokennalestes Placentalia Superorder Xenarthra: Cingulata (Armadillos) Pilosa (Sloths, True Anteaters) Superorder Afrotheria: Afrosoricida (Tenrecs, etc. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Families See text The toothed whales (systematic name Odontoceti) form a suborder of the cetaceans. ... Genera See text Oceanic dolphins are the members of the Delphinidae family of cetaceans. ... Species Cephalorhyncus commersonii Cephalorhyncus eutropia Cephalorhyncus heavisidii Cephalorhyncus hectori Cephalorhynchus is a genus in the Delphinidae (dolphin) family. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Cetacea_range_map_Hectors_Dolphin. ... Genera See article below. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ...

Hector’s dolphin was named after Sir James Hector (1834-1907). He was the curator of the Colonial Museum in Wellington (now the Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa). He examined the first specimen found of the dolphin. James Hector, circa 1858 Sir James Hector (March 16, 1834–November 06, 1907) was a Scottish geologist, naturalist, and surgeon who accompanied the Palliser Expedition as a surgeon and geologist. ... Year 1834 (MDCCCXXXIV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For the first Duke of Wellington, see Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. ... Te Papa (Our Place), The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum of New Zealand. ...

Popoto/Maui's Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) is a subspecies found off the northwest coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is the most endangered subspecies of all marine mammals (other cetaceans with a similarly perilous conservation status inhabit rivers and estuaries only). There are approximately 110 Maui's dolphins in the wild, with only 25 of those estimated to be breeding females. The Maui's dolphin is critically endangered due to being caught in fishing nets and being wounded by boat. Adult Maui's dolphins are generally 1.2 to 1.6 m long and weigh up to 50 kg. They have a rounded dorsal (upper) fin and have white undersides and grey sides. Maui's dolphins take short (90 second) dives to feed on small fish and crustaceans on the ocean floor. North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... Dorsal fin of an orca A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of fishes, whales, dolphins, and porpoises, as well as the (extinct) ichthyosaurs. ... For the Dutch band, see Crustacean (band). ...

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization for the conservation, research and restoration of the natural environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in the United States and Canada. ...

Physical description

Hector's dolphins have a unique rounded dorsal fin.

Hector's dolphin has no discernible beak and a rounded dorsal fin. The fluke has pointed tips and concave trailing edges. The overall color is a pale grey but closer inspection reveals a complex tapestry of colour. The forehead is grey with streaks of black. The tip of the beak is black. The throat and chest are white. Above that there is a dark grey patch running from the flippers (also dark grey) to the eyes. The belly is also white with a stripe running up the sides from under the dorsal fin. The bulk of the back and sides is the same lighter grey of the beak. The tail stock is narrow. At birth the animal weighs about 9 kg and grows to about 40 to 60 kg at adulthood. They live for about 20 years. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (993x660, 63 KB) Photograph by James Shook, who retains copyright and releases the image under the license shown below. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (993x660, 63 KB) Photograph by James Shook, who retains copyright and releases the image under the license shown below. ... Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs light more than does air. ...

Hector's dolphins live in fluid groups of about two to eight in number. They are active animals, readily bow-riding and playing with seaweed. When leaping from the sea, individuals will often land on their side, creating a loud splash (their vertical and horizontal dives are much less noisy).

Some sharks prey on Hector's Dolphins.

Population and distribution

Hector's dolphins are endemic to the coastal regions of New Zealand. There are two known main populations, one on each side of the South Island. The two populations are believed to be largely cut off from one another by deep water at Cook Strait and at the south-west tip of the South Island. The species seems unwilling or unable to cross areas of deep water. The total population was estimated to be around 3,500 in the mid-1980s. A more recent survey suggested a total population of approximately 7,250 individuals (see conservation below). A notable population exists at Akaroa, near Christchurch, New Zealand. The South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. ... A view of from the summit of Mount Victoria, Wellington - Cook Strait stretches to the right (west). ... A view of the Akaroa harbour. ... For other uses, see Christchurch (disambiguation). ...

Hector's Dolphins at Porpoise Bay, in the Catlins.

Hector's Dolphins are sighted always less than 10 km off-shore in summer and only slightly further afield in winter. Occasional sightings were reported from Australia and Malaysia, but these were mis-identifications. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1637x1701, 266 KB) Summary Description: Hectors Dolphins swimming at Porpoise Bay, in the Catlins, New Zealand. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1637x1701, 266 KB) Summary Description: Hectors Dolphins swimming at Porpoise Bay, in the Catlins, New Zealand. ... The Catlins (sometimes referred to as The Catlins Coast) is an area in the southeastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. ...

There are about 100 individuals in the Maui subspecies.

Conservation

Entanglement in gillnets is a very significant threat to the Hector's dolphin species. From 1970 such entanglements, which lead to certain death, are estimated to be responsible for reducing the population. In 1988 a marine reserve was created around Banks Peninsula to prohibit gillnet activity in the area. This has stemmed the rate of population decrease, but an increase in numbers has not yet been recorded. Other threats, such as collisions with boat propellers, may also be hampering a return to stability. Oil painting of gillnetting, The salmon fisher by Eilif Peterssen. ... Banks Peninsula has a roughly circular shape, with many bays and two deep harbours. ...

In March 2004, New Zealand's Department of Conservation began testing a system for satellite tracking cetaceans by tagging three Hector's Dolphins. If these movements can be tracked successfully, the system will be extended to track the highly endangered Maui subspecies. The Department of Conservation (In Māori, Te Papa Atawhai), commonly known by its acronym, DOC, is the state sector organisation of New Zealand which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage. ...

In April 2007, the World Wide Fund for Nature launched an online petition asking Helen Clark to introduce emergency measures to protect the Hector's and Maui dolphins. [1] The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization for the conservation, research and restoration of the natural environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in the United States and Canada. ... For other persons named Helen Clark, see Helen Clark (disambiguation). ...

References

• Baker, Alan N., Smith, Adam H. and Franz. B. Pichler, 2002. Geographical variation in Hector's dolphin: recognition of a new species of Cephalorhynchus hectori. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand Vol. 32 No. 4 pp 713-727. (Original description of Maui's dolphin).
• Slooten & Taylor (2000). Cephalorhynchus hectori. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 5 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered.
• National Audubon Society: Guide to Marine Mammals of the World ISBN 0-375-41141-0
• Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals ISBN 0-12-551340-2
• Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Mark Carwardine 1995 ISBN 0-7513-2781-6
• Facts about Maui's dolphin Department of Conservation - Several Images & listed as 'critically endangered' - Retrieved 2007-05-08.
• Hector's Dolphins, New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries - Retrieved 2007-02-09.
• Hector's Dolphin - Factsheet, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc - Retrieved 2007-02-09.

1. ^ Jenny Riches. Hector's and Maui's survival in Kiwi's hands, says WWF. Retrieved on May 11, 2007.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... There are several Department of Conservations: New Zealand Department of Conservation California Department of Conservation This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 128th day of the year (129th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Ministry of Fisheries (In Māori, Te Tautiaki i nga tini a Tangaroa), also known by its acronym MFish, is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is ensuring the sustainable utilisation of fisheries. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand is an environmental organization specialising in conservation in New Zealand. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
• BBC News report on satellite tracking technology
• WWF Maui's Dolphin Home Page: The worlds rarest marine dolphin