Fraser's Dolphin

Lagenodelphis hosei

 

Classification
Scientific Name: Lagenodelphis hosei

Other Names: Sarawak Dolphin, Shortsnout Dolphin, Bornean Dolphin, White-bellied Dolphin, Fraser's Porpoise

Suborder: Odontoceti

Family: Delphinidae

Description
This short-beaked dolphin has a stocky body, small flippers and a short often triangular dorsal fin. Its body is dark grey with a paler underside, a wide, dark, horizontal stripe from rostrum to vent which merges with a dark facial mask and beak to flipper stripe.

Usually in large groups, often with mixes with other species and highly surface active.

Maximum Length
Adult: 2.1 - 2.7m
Newborns: 1m 

Maximum Weight
Adult: 160 - 210 kg
Newborns: 20 kg

Fraser's Dolphin Ecology

Range:Tropical waters usually between 30°N and 30°S.

Usual Habitat: Relatively deep, offshore waters but sometimes found in deep, coastal waters.

Usual group size: Largely unknown.

Main Diet: Mesopelagic fish, crustaceans and cephalopods

Local population: Unknown

 Global range of the Fraser's Dolphin


Fraser's Dolphin are likely to be found in the dark blue areas

 Conservation Information 

Protection and Conservation Status

IUCN Conservation Status:  Fraser's Dolphins are listed as "Least concern" on the IUCN red list.

SPAW Protocol:  Fraser's Dolphins are cetaceans, which are listed under Annex II of the SPAW protocol. As such they require total protection under article 11 of this protocol which prohibits the "taking, possession, killing and commercial trade of the species, their parts or products". The SPAW protocol was created to help with the implementation and promotion of the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Annexes of the SPAW protocol can be found here.

Local Laws: Cetaceans are protected under the Conservation of Wildlife Act of Trinidad and Tobago which offers protection to all species not listed under the second or third schedules of this act. 

Reports of Fraser's Dolphins in Trinidad and Tobago
There are currently no reports of this species in Trinidad and Tobago.

References
The above information was obtained from the following sources:

  • A Princeton Field Guide: Whales Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World by Hadoram Shirihai and Brett Jarrett (2006)
  • Smithsonian Handbooks: Whales Dolphins and Porpoises by Mark Carwardine and illustrated by Martin Camm (2002)
  • The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society's Species Guide at http://www2.wdcs.org/species/index.php
  • The IUCN Redlist at http://www.iucnredlist.org
  • The SPAW protocol Annexes with links available at http://www.car-spaw-rac.org/?Annexes-of-the-SPAW-Protocol,83

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people for the use of the art work and photographs:

  • Alësha Naranjit (Illustration of Fraser's Dolphin)
 
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