Delphinus capensis

Scientific Name:-

Delphinus capensis

Common Name:-

Long-beaked Common Dolphin

Malayalam Name:-

Kadaledi / Sadharara Dolphin

Category:-

Mammals

Status:-

Data Deficient ver 3.1 in Red List Category. Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and in Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule II

Description:-

Its body is more slender and it has a longer beak than the short-beaked common dolphin. The beak is sharply demarcated from the rounded melon, which is somewhat flat in appearance. Sleek but robust body with a tall, pointy, "falcate"dorsal fin located in the middle of the back. This species can be identified by its distinct bright contrasting coloration patterns. There is a dull yellow/tan thoracic panel between the dark cape and white ventral patch forward of the dorsal fin. The bold coloration forms a crisscrossing hourglass pattern below the dark saddle, and a lighter gray area extends up to the tail stock. Narrow dark stripes extend from the lower jaw to the flipper and from the eye to the anal area. The coloration and patterns of young and juvenile dolphins are muted and darker. They are relatively small dolphins that can reach lengths of 6-8.5 ft (1.9-2.6 m) and weigh 80-235 kg. Usually found in large social groups averaging from 100-500 animals. The majority of their diet consists of small schooling fish (e.g., anchovies, sardines, etc.), shrimps and cephalopods. Dolphin groups may work together to herd schools of prey. This species has 47-67 pairs of small sharp conical teeth in each jaw used for grasping prey. These dolphins have an estimated lifespan of approximately 40 years.

Threats:-

: Incidental take (as bycatch) in a number of fisheries that include driftnets, gillnets, purse seines, and trawls.

Remark:-

Until 1994 all common dolphins were classified as a single species, D. delphis, but research by Heyning and Perrin (1994), later confirmed by Kingston and Rosel (2004), led to the recognition of two distinct species: the long-beaked and the short-beaked common dolphins.

Habitat:-

Long-beaked common dolphins generally prefer shallow, tropical, subtropical and warmer temperate waters closer to the coast (usually within 50-100 nautical miles (90-180 km)) and on the continental shelf.

Synonyms:-

Delphinus bairdi Norris & Prescott, 1961; Delphinus bairdii Dall, 1873; Delphinus frithii Blyth, 1859 ; Delphinus major Gray, 1866; Delphinus microps Burmeister, 1866; Delphinus moorei Gray, 1866; Delphinus sao Gray, 1850

References:-

Balan, V. (1961). Some observations on the shoaling behaviour of the oil-sardine. Indian Journal of Fisheries 8:207-221
De Silva, P. (1987). Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) recorded off Sri Lanka, India, from the Arabian Sea and Gulf, Gulf of Aden and from the Red Sea.
Hammond, P.S., Bearzi, G., Bjørge, A., Forney, K., Karczmarski, L., Kasuya, T., Perrin, W.F., Scott, M.D., Wang, J.Y., Wells, R.S. & Wilson, B. 2008. Delphinus capensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 15 August 2013.
Heyning JE and Perrin WF (1994). Evidence for two species of common dolphins (genus Delphinus) from the eastern North Pacific. Los Angeles County Mus. Nat. Hist. Contr. Sci., 442: 1-35.
Jayaprakash, A., Nammalwar, P., Pillai, S. K. & Elayath, M. N. (1995). Incidental by-catch of dolphins at Fisheries Harbour, Cochin, with a note on their conservation and management in India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India 37:126-133.
Jayasankar, P. and Anoop, B. 2010. Identification of Marine Mammals of India. Narendra Publishing House, Delhi.
Jefferson, T.A., Leatherwood, S. and Webber, M.A. 1993. FAO Species identification guide. Marine Mammals of the World: UNEP / FAO, Rome, 320 pp.
Jefferson, T. A., M. A. Webber and R. L. Pitman. (2008). Marine mammals of the world. Academic Press, Amsterdam.
Kumaran, P.L. 2012. Cetaceans and cetacean research in India. J. Cetacean Res. Manage., 12(2): 159–172.
Lal Mohan, R. 1985. Observations on the by-catch of dolphins Stenella longirostris, Tursiops aduncus, Sousa chinensis and Delphinus delphis tropicalis in the gill nets off Calicut coast, India. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Endangered Marine Animals and Marine Parks, 1985, MBAI, Cochin.1:78-83.
Lal Mohan, R. (1996). Police case against the fishermen for selling marine dolphins in Calicut, Kerala. Rivdolphinews 1(2):4-5.
Lydekker, R. 1905. On dolphins from Travancore. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 16(4): 730-736.
Perrin, W. (2013). Delphinus capensis. In: Perrin, W.F. (2013) World Cetacea Database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137093 on 2013-08-15
Pillay, R. 1926. List of cetaceans taken in Travancore from 1902 to 1925. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 31(3): 815-817.
Sathasivam, K. 2004.Marine Mammals of India. University Press, Hyderabad.
Vivekanandan, E. and Jeyabaskaran, R. 2012. Marine Mammal Species of India. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, 228pp.

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