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Dusky dolphin

Lagenorhynchus Obscurue

Dusky Dolphins can be found in coastal temperate waters of South Africa, New Zealand and South America.

Classification: Gray identified the Dusky Dolphin in 1828, naming it Lagenorhynchus obscurus - the specific name comes from the Latin for 'indistinct'.

Local Names: Fitzroy's Dolphin; Delfin Obscuro; Duskies.

Description: The Dusky Dolphin is small and compact, with a short dark beak and gently sloping forehead. The dorsal cape is dark grey or blue-black, with a crescent of light grey on the rear half of the fin. The flippers are also dark, as are the flukes and underside of the keel. There is a forked pale grey/white blaze along the sides of the flanks; the undersides are also white. A small dark patch encircles each eye. There are between 48 and 72 teeth per jaw. Adults reach between 1.6m and 2.1m in length.

Recognition at sea: Dusky Dolphins are most likely to be confused with the similar Peale's Dolphin. However, the Dusky's forked blaze along the flanks and white 'face' should aid correct identification. The Hourglass Dolphin may also be confused with Duskies, but the former is strikingly black-and-white only.

Habitat: Dusky Dolphins prefer inshore, coastal waters.

Food & Feeding: Dusky Dolphins take a wide variety of midwater fish and squid, principally anchovies and lantern fish.

Behaviour: This species is normally found in small units of 6-15 animals, but larger groups of 20-500 animals, or massive aggregations of over 1,000, are also common. Highly social and acrobatic, they leap, spin, somersault and bowride, and often associate with other cetaceans, such as Common Dolphins and Southern Right Whales. Seabirds - including petrels, jaegers, albatrosses and terns - have also been observed associating with travelling pods.

Longevity: Unknown.

Estimated Current Population: Unknown.

The Influence of Man: Peru culls around 700 animals every year, their meat to be sold on the food market. Accidental catches in fishing tackle have been reported in New Zealand. Dusky Dolphins held in captivity have yielded low to moderate success.