A brief informational presentation on the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and a particular study of it. The music portion was an experiment, and only fits the theme in that it is from the video game Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future. No narration.

1. Keygan Sands

2. Overview
Species: Sousa chinensis
Genus: Sousa
Family: Delphinidae
Sub-Order: Odontoceti
Order: Cetacea
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia
• Unique morphology, coloration
• Males up to 3.2 meters, females
up to 2.4 m
• Elaborate vocal repertoire
(echolocation, contact calls)
• Small groups

3. Ecology
• Inshore coastal, estuarine,
mangrove habitats
• Feeds on fish, mainly reef
and estuarine
• Preyed on by sharks

4. “Resource partitioning in sympatric delphinids: space
use and habitat preferences of Australian snubfin and
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins” -Guido J. Parra
How do two dolphin species coexist in the same
habitat?
Findings:
• Two species share a significant range with similar behaviors
• Primary behavior was foraging
• Humpbacks prefer deeper water (2-5 m) and dredged
channels
• Snubfins prefer shallower water (1-2 m) and seagrass beds
• Fine-scale habitat selection and aggressive exclusion are
factors allowing coexistence

5. The Study
Behavior Results:
• Humpbacks: mostly foraging, significant difference with
location/time
• Snubfins: foraging/traveling, no significant difference
• Spatial overlap 81%, concordance in space use patterns

6. The Study (cont.)
Habitat Selection Results:
• Humpbacks: prefer 2-5 m deep water and dredged
channels
• Snubfins: prefer 1-2 m deep water and seagrass beds

7. Conclusions
• Habitat heterogeneity is crucial
• Influences of the land are important
• Sympatric dolphins coexist in varied ways

8. Works CitedInformation
Images
Barros, Nelio B, Thomas A. Jefferson, and E. C. M. Parsons. “Feeding Habits of Indo-Pacific
Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) Stranded in Hong Kong.” Aquatic
Mammals 30, no. 1 (2004): 179-88.
Carwardine, Mark, Erich Hoyt, R. Ewan Fordyce, and Peter Gill. A Guide to Whales, Dolphins
& Porpoises. San Francisco: Fog City Press, 1998.
Ellis, Richard. Dolphins and Porpoises. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1989.
Napier, Stephanie. “Sousa chinensis.” Animal Diversity Web. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.
umich.edu/accounts/Sousa_chinensis/>
Parra, Guido J. “Resource partitioning in sympatric delphinids: space use and habitat
preferences of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.” Journal of
Animal Ecology 75 (2006): 862-74.
Van Parijs, Sofie M.; Corkeron, Peter J. “Vocalizations and Behaviour of Pacific Humpback
Dolphins Sousa chinensis.” Ethology 107 (2001): 701-16.
“Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)” <http://www.aquabio.com/sousa-
chinensis.html>
“Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)” <http://www.arkive.org/indo-pacific-
humpback-dolphin/sousa-chinensis/image-G113129.html>
“Moreton Bay and Moreton Island.” <http://www.brisbane-australia.com/moreton-bay-and-
moreton-island.html>
“The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin.” Capricorn Cetaceans Project. <http://www.capricorn
cetaceansproject.com/indo-pacific-humpback-dolphins.html>