HECTOR’S DOLPHINBy: Bella Laybourn

What are dolphins?

Highly intelligent and social marine mammals resembling small, toothed whales that typically have a beaklike snout and a curved fin on the back.

Found throughout the world’s oceans and rivers.

Evolved specialized bio-sonar system known as echolocation to communicate and navigate.

Share many human behavioral characteristics such as play.

Sleep with half their brain awake in order to breathe and watch for predators.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Eutheria Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae Genus: Cephalorhynchus Species: Cephalorhynchus Hectori

Hector’s Dolphin Characteristics

Smallest dolphin in the world (4 – 5 ft. long) Unique to New Zealand Overall appearance is pale grey with black

mask around eyes Only species with rounded, blunt dorsal fin Subspecies “Maui’s dolphin” is rarest and

most endangered of all marine mammals (only around 110 remaining)

Hector’s Dolphin Habitat(New Zealand)

Hector’s Dolphin to human Comparison

Anatomy of a Dolphin

Reasons Endangered

Human exploitation & harvesting Bycatch in bottom-set gillnets Marine toxins & oil spills Discarded trash & nets Collision with vessels River regulation devices Sound pollution Habitat destruction & climate change

What’s Being Done to Help? Dolphins monitored closely to ensure safety. Emergency conservation measures enacted

including rules and regulations prohibiting gillnet bycatch out to 4 mi offshore.

Harbors are getting better protection from fisheries for dolphins.

Protection from trawling fisheries is being enforced.

New marine mammal sanctuaries have been designated in New Zealand.

What can you do to help?

Adopt a dolphin. Buy only dolphin safe tuna. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Use fewer harmful chemicals. Conserve water. Use a more gas efficient car.

For More Information

www.wilddolphin.org www.defenders.org www.earthsendangered.org www.whaledolphintrust.org www.forestandbird.org www.eoearth.org

Thank you