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Heaviside's Dolphin | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Cephalorhynchus heavisidii | ||||||||||||||||||
Heaviside's Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) is a small dolphin that is found off the coast of Namibia and the west coast of South Africa. It is one of four dolphins in the Cephalorhychus genus - the others being the Chilean Dolphin, Hector's Dolphin and Commerson's Dolphin.
Heaviside's Dolphin is actually named after a Captain Haviside who brought a specimen from Namibia to the United Kingdom early in the 19th Century. However its name was once mis-spelled Heaviside, after a prominent surgeon, Captain Heaviside who collected cetacean and other animal species. The latter name stuck and is the most common in the popular literature. However some authorities, including the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals use the originally intended name - Haviside's Dolphin
Although sightings of the species are not uncommon off the Skeleton CoastThe Skeleton Coast is located on the west coast of Namibia, where the upwelling of the cold Benguela current gives rise to dense ocean fogs for much of the year. The coast is named for the remarkable assemblages of bones scattered on its beaches. The coas of Namibia, Heaviside's Dolphins have not been systematically studied by scientists. They have been recorded off the coast of northern Namibia at 17° S and as far south as the southern tip of South Africa. Sightings are often recorded from major population centres such as Cape TownCape Town ( Afrikaans: Kaapstad , is one of South Africa's three capital cities serving as the legislative capital ( Pretoria being the executive capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital). It is also the capital of the Western Cape province. It is mo and towns such as Walvis BayWalvis Bay, Namibia Area 1,124 km² (696. 9 mi²) Established 1840 Population 45,400 Population Density 30. 2/mi²) Administrative Division Erongo Mayor Augustinus Katiti Time Zone South African Standard Time: UTC+1 Latitude and Longitude Latitude: 22. 95°S. No estimates of abundance exist.
Heaviside's Dolphin is a fairly small dolphin - growing up to about 180cm in length and weighing up to 75kg. Their size and bluntness of their head leads these dolphins to often be mistaken for porpoiseNeophocaena Phocoena Harbor porpoises Phocoenoides Dall's porpoises The porpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae they are related to whales and dolphins. They are however distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" is often used tos. The head is coloured a dark grey. The front half of the upper side and the flanks are a much lighter grey. The dorsal finDorsal Fin of the Orca A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of fishes, whales, dolphins and porpoises. Its main purpose is to stabilise the animal against rolling and assist in sudden turns. Some animals have developed dorsal fins with protective fu, flukeFluke is: Another name for trematodes, a kind of flatworm (for example, the Liver Fluke). Skin or Gill Skin or Gill Flukes. The name of an electronic dance music band; see Fluke (band . A 1995 film; see Fluke (movie . Either lobe of the tail of whales ( c and back half of the back are again a darker grey colour. The underbelly is white and there are flashes of white on the flanks below the dorsal fin.
Males reach sexual maturity at about 7-9 years. Females reach breeding age at the same time. The gestation period is probably 10 months. Mating occurs in Spring and Summer. It is believed that females calf on average once every three years. The maximum known age of a Heaviside's Dolphin is 20 years. This relatively short life span, coupled with the long calving period, causes a naturally low population growth rate. Therefore the species is particularly sensitive to being hunted.
Heaviside's Dolphins are active and social animals. They typical congregate in groups of about 5-10 in number, and sometimes in larger groups. They are able to swim fast. Part of the play and social activity is to jump vertically clear of the water, turn in the air, and fall back into the sea without virtually no splashing or noise.