#Sousa plumbea

[inatungulates]

Indian humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea

With pink ghost crab Ocypode ryderi

Observed by niallp, CC BY-NC

[namu-the-orca]

A posse of proper ‘phins And another set of illustrations from last year. This time the “proper” dolphins - not too small, a regular dorsal fin, a good beak. Only the Risso’s is a bit out of line with their cute potheads but otherwise he was all alone. I had lots of fun with all of these. Spinners and Pantropcal spotted dolphin are a delight to draw always. This Pantropical spotted is from the Indian ocean, which tend to have fine black spots and very few white spots. The rough-toothed dolphin gave me some trouble - they’ve such odd proportions they’re hard to really nail down. I still don’t think he fully looks right, but that’s for a different illustration.

The common dolphins on top are very interesting to me: a good example of the diversity found within the single species of Delphinus delphis. Both are forms living around Southern Africa. The “longer beaked” form is larger, more elegant, and has gorgeous clear markings. They live off the Southeast coast, relatively close to shore. The “shorter beaked” form lives more to the west, in offshore waters. They are stouter and often with slightly vaguer markings. One day I’d love to see a study done on all the African forms of short-beaked common dolphins, they are so fascinating. If you move further up the west coast, around Angola, you’ll find a really strange form which is super dark and oddly proportioned. Wonder what’s up with those.

The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin is also an oddball, and a first for me. Love their cute faces and unique body shape. Not just the hump-back but also that strongly keeled peduncle. I hope you’ll enjoy them too!

[todropscience]

WHAT DO TIGER SHARK EAT? ALMOST ANYTHING

Tiger Shark is one of the largest sharks in the world. belong to the large-sized species of sharks. Their size is comparable to that of the white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). Tiger shark s have an enormous appetite and can eat almost anything they find in their path. They are known for eating a wide range of prey, from fishes, birds, mammals, cephalopods, turtles and others sharks as well. These sharks will eat anything, including junk, even license plates, tires and a variety of garbage, tiger sharks have a reputation as a "garbage eater".

In south Africa for example, a diverse range of 192 prey items were identified from the stomach contents. Prey items ranged in size from small unidentified shrimps and bivalves to various large whale species including sperm whale and humpback whale.

-  Stomach contents retrieved from Tiger sharks caught in the KwaZulu-Natal shark nets and drumlines, between 1983–2014.(a) blue duiker (Philantomba monticola) a small antelope found in Africa (b) Humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) and unidentified seabird (c) African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), skate egg case, unidentified shark, humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) (d)  Cape gannets (Morus capensis) and unidentified porcupine fish.

Items found in tiger sharks from South African waters included junk food (e.g. sweet and potato crisp packets), terrestrial/flood garbage (e.g. condoms, chamois leather, cigarettes) and butcher's bones (e.g. bags of chicken gizzards, cut abattoir bones). Tiger sharks are regarded as the least discriminate feeders of all shark species. The discovery of a variety of non-digestible anthropogenic as well as digestible terrestrial prey items confirm its ability to scavenge and forage opportunistically. 

Photo:  A Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, in the Bahamas. Source: Albert Kok

Reference: Dicken et al. 2017. Diet and trophic ecology of the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) from South African waters. PlosONE

[sciencespies]

Science alone won’t save humpback dolphins

https://sciencespies.com/nature/science-alone-wont-save-humpback-dolphins/

Science alone won’t save humpback dolphins

There are fewer than 500 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) remaining in South African waters. Science alone will not bring them back from the brink of extinction — we also need a multi-stakeholder Conservation Management Plan to boost their numbers.

This is according to the SouSA Consortium, a novel and highly-collaborative formalised network of 17 scientists and conservationists from 11 different institutions (including partners from academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and tourism) across South Africa focusing on the conservation status of the little-known humpback dolphin which can be found along the south and east coast from False Bay to Kosi Bay.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Red List of Mammals of South Africa has listed the humpback dolphin as the first, and to date only, endangered marine mammal resident in South African waters. Hence, embers of the Consortium* conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis to help them identify the actions that should be taken to improve the conservation of these dolphins. They did the analysis because the range, relative strength and interplay of the threats impacting the species in South African waters remain poorly understood, and setting clear priority actions is extremely challenging.

The findings of their study were published recently in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

“Although environmental factors almost certainly play a role in the declining numbers of the species in our waters, individual threats and solutions are challenging to identify as the South African marine environment is undergoing significant changes, often as a result of human activities, such as coastal construction and pollution. There are also major changes in the distribution and availability of prey species,” says lead author and Associate Professor Stephanie Plön from the Department of Pathology at Stellenbosch University (SU) and the Bayworld Centre for Research and Education in Port Elizabeth.

“We concluded that no single cause for their rapid decline could be identified and that the cumulative effects of multiple stressors, which are difficult to pinpoint and mitigate, are impacting population numbers.”

Shanan Atkins from the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand adds: “The main strength identified through our analysis is the diversity of specialist skills within the Consortium, while the main weakness is dealing with multiple impacts and engaging with policymakers and funders.”

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“The fact that the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin’s ‘Endangered’ status is formally recognised nationally and internationally, presents a key opportunity to facilitate action with regards to governance,” says Dr Els Vermeulen from the Mammal Research Institute at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria.

The Consortium is hopeful that recent developments present important instruments that may help facilitate a shift for the conservation of the species, for example the newly declared Important Marine Mammal Areas.

However, the main threat to the conservation of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin is the multiple and cumulative impacts of human activity in the coastal zone.

One example is “Operation Phakisa” that is likely to increase the noise level in the oceans generated by human activity. Operation Phakisa is an initiative established to stimulate economic growth in the marine environment and develop the Oceans Economy.

“An example of this is unregulated growth of industries under economic imperatives without fully understanding the possible negative impacts that increased activity in the marine environment will have on ocean life. Growth in sectors like oil and gas exploration, marine transport, harbour development and fishing/aquaculture will increase noise levels in the ocean, introduce additional pollutants and could result in unintentional habitat partitioning,” says co-author Dr Gwenith Penry from the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research at Nelson Mandela University.

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“The Consortium is working towards high-level interdisciplinary engagement to ensure that any potentially harmful effects are appropriately mitigated,” she adds.

The Consortium hopes that their study can form the basis of a Conservation Management Plan that will ensure healthy gene flow in the population, prevent population segregation and improve habitat quality in critical coastal areas.

Plön emphasises that saving the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin will require a shift in our thinking from regarding these animals as “sentinels” that provide advance warnings to “indicators” of the health of the marine environment.

She says the Consortium will continue to engage with government to declare Indian Ocean humpback dolphins a priority species for conservation.

“For comparison, there are about 1 792 Black Rhino and 700-1 050 cheetah left at present,” Drs Tess Gridley and Simon Elwen from SeaSearch Research and Conservation and SU point out.

“We plan to engage more with stakeholders (public, government, legislators, parastatal organisations, educators etc.) through increased outreach and education and have a stakeholder meeting with invited conservation experts as well as experts from the sectors that are a threat to the species, e.g. tourism, coastal development, etc. to increase our involvement in governance and policy,” says Plön.

“The complex factors impacting this species in South African waters are very challenging and in order to find realistic and effective solutions going forward, we need all hands on deck!”

#Nature

[mohitzist]

پارک دریایی نخیلو ثبت جهانی شد مدیرکل دفتر زیست بوم‌های دریایی سازمان حفاظت محیط زیست گفت: پارک ملی دریایی نخیلو دیر از توابع استان بوشهر از طرف اتحادیه جهانی حفاظت از طبیعت ب��‌ عنوان منطقه حفاظت شده پستانداران دریایی تائید شد. به گزارش سایت خبری محیط زیست ایران داوود میرشکار افزود:کارشناسان انجمن مردم نهاد طرح سرزمین در نشستی که بدین منظور در اسفند سال گذشته در شهر سلاله کشور عمان برگزار شد، پنج منطقه را از ایران به‌ عنوان مناطق مهم پستانداران دریایی معرفی کردند که ۲منطقه به صورت مشترک با کشورهای کویت و پاکستان ارائه شد و سه منطقه نیز با نام‌های آب‌های ساحلی نخیلو، جزایر غرب هرمزگان و سواحل شمالی هرمز از ایران ارائه شد. وی اضافه کرد: از میان مناطق ارائه شده پارک ملی نخیلو دیر بر اساس پایش‌های صورت گرفته از سوی معاونت محیط زیست دریایی و تالاب‌ها، اداره کل حفاظت محیط زیست استان بوشهر و این انجمن در زمینه شناسایی و برآورد جمعیت پستانداران دریایی در پنج سال گذشته و مستندات ارایه شده به‌عنوان منطقه مهم پستانداران دریایی انتخاب شد ولی سایر مناطق به دلیل کمبود پایش و اطلاعات به‌عنوان کاندیدا برای انتخاب در لیست انتظار قرار گرفت تا با انجام تحقیقات بیشتر و تکمیل شدن مستندات به‌عنوان منطقه حفاظت شده پستانداران دریایی انتخاب شوند. وی بیان کرد: انجمن مردم نهاد طرح سرزمین با معرفی و رهنمودهای تخصصی معاونت محیط زیست دریایی و تالاب‌ها و اداره کل حفاظت محیط زیست استان بوشهر و علاقمندی پتروشیمی نوری پروژه ای را با هدف حفاظت از گونه حیات وحش در این استان به‌عنوان اولین پایش دریایی و پژوهش مستمر بر روی گونه دلفین آغاز می‌کند. میرشکار اضافه کرد: دلفین گوژپشت اقیانوس هند با نام علمی Sousa plumbea یکی از گونه‌های خانواده دلفین است که پس از بازبینی و بررسی دوباره اطلاعات موجود با توجه به وضعیت کنونی و حساس این‌گونه از سال ۲۰۱۵ در رده گونه "در معرض خطر انقراض" در فهرست سرخ اتحادیه جهانی حفاظت (IUCN) قرار گرفته است. وی ادامه داد: جمعیت این گونه در آب‌های خلیج فارس و دریای عمان ایران نامشخص است و تنها مشاهدات گذشته از این گونه در ۲ منطقه که به طور دائمی قابل رویت بوده است یکی در استان بوشهر منطقه پارک ملی نخیلو دیرو دیگری در استان خوزستان در خور موسی و البته مشاهدات پراکنده از آب‌های خورخوران و میناب در استان هرمزگان و گواتر در استان سیستان و بلوچستان است. میرشکار گفت: هدف کلی این پروژه حفاظت گونه است که در راستای حفاظت به بحث جوامع محلی، آموزش و بررسی تهدیدات نیز پرداخته شده https://www.instagram.com/p/B6hv5H8AcHL/?igshid=cotza7d30xlk

[jaedentheking02]

Why in the world are there so many dolphins?

Can Anybody Tell me why there are so many dolphins in the world? Good Lord LOL! But anyway let’s get To the information

Scientific Notation:

The Chinese white dolphin is a variety of Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin. This variety inhabits the eastern portion of the species range, in Southeast Asia and Australia. They are scientifically named Sousa chinensis

Taxonomic Classification:

The Chinese White Dolphin is taxonomically classified as Mammals

Common Name:

The species' common names are: Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Chinese white dolphin, pink dolphin

Nutritional Requirements:

This dolphin prefers coastal fishes and those who live in reefs, littorals, and estuaries. Their prey includes cephalopods and crustaceans on few occasions.

It searches for opportunistic food in shallow waters, near the bottom of the ocean. If the tide is high, it ventures to areas with abundant food. In several areas of Australia, it has been seen following boats that catch fish and shrimp, to feed on discarded animals.

Growth & Development:

Females reach sexual maturity at 9-10 years of age and males later, as they reach sexual maturity between 12 and 13 years.

+ Gestation period: 10 to 12 months.

Behavior:

The Chinese white dolphin shows a behavior slightly less social than other species because it has been seen several times swimming alone. This does not mean that they do not form pods, but these usually have less than ten members and occasionally equal to or larger than 25 individuals. In the same way, the relationships between members are not close except fo those of mothers with their offspring.

Reproduction:

The reproduction season is during the months of spring and summer although it can extend until the autumn. There is little information about the reproductive habits of this dolphin and much less about its courtship methods. Studies and observations indicate that this species has as its primary reproductive strategy searching for a partner to mate.

Evolutionary Origins:

Some biologists regard the Chinese white dolphin as a separate subspecies, Sousa chinensis chinensis, from the Plumbea-type Indo-Pacific humbacked dolphin, which lives in the western part of the species range, from east Africa to India. ... At birth, the dolphins are black.

Habitat: 

The dolphins' habitat spans the Pearl River Estuary, and is closely associated with the estuarine mixing zone between the river and the ocean. On the western coast of the Pearl River Estuary, within Hong Kong waters, the dolphins prefer to stay close to the shore.

[kowalskissaki]

287) Garbogrzbiet indyjski, Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea, Sousa chinensis plumbea) – podgatunek garbogrzbieta chińskiego, ssaka łożyskowego z rodziny delfinowatych (Delphinidae). Zasiedla wody zachodniego Oceanu Indyjskiego wzdłuż wybrzeży Afryki, po Morze Czerwone i wybrzeża Indii. Badanie z 2014 r. ujawniło, że są odrębnym gatunkiem.

[flyingbizdeals]

Don’t let fake news steal the habitat of our dolphins

Don’t let fake news steal the habitat of our dolphins

To be able to observe dolphins from one’s balcony is not a possibility for most in Mumbai, which may explain why video grabs of these beauties caused such a stir on social media. There must have been a time when Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins (Sousa plumbea) roamed this coastal stretch in large numbers. Today, they are scattered in small pockets, one of which is the bay off Raj Bhavan, Malabar…

[aasociacionpromocionoceanos]

Paddling with WILD DOLPHINS - Abu Dhabi (Sousa Plumbea)

[inatungulates]

Indian humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea

Observed by pavlaki1968, CC BY

[namu-the-orca]

“Strange Places”

An old Indian humpback dolphin has taken a wrong turn in an East African estuary; instead of swimming back out to sea he finds himself in a maze of yellow-and-green rivers. Hunchbacked fish scuttle along the bottom, drifting islands of vegetation form living underwater walls that appear and disappear out of nowhere. Caves made of roots hide crocodiles and fish larger than himself. 

Strange places.

[shirlleycoyle]

What Makes Humpback Dolphins Different? This Indian Biologist Is Finding Out

In the US, the most exposure people usually have to dolphins in aquariums or on TV, but along India’s west coast, interactions with the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) are reasonably common – and can lead to conflict. #globalsoutscience What Makes Humpback Dolphins Different? This Indian Biologist Is Finding Out syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/

[ybohadi]

Volunteer for Acoustic Research Month at Dolphin Encountours Research Centre, Mozambique

Sea Search Research and Conservation will be joining the Dolphin Research Team in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve in Mozambique over the month of February 2020. During this time Sasha Dines will be visiting and collecting data for her PhD "Using novel acoustic methodology to inform conservation actions for South Africa's most endangered dolphin; the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea)?

During this time we aim to undertake dedicated field trips which will find us using an array of equipment including hydrophones, recorders and camera?s both in-water and out to further study our local population of dolphins. Data will be processed and analysed to use in conservation measures to further protect these species along the African coastline.

We have four spaces for volunteers who would like to dive in and explore the way of wild dolphins and this fascinating area of research.

Volunteers can expect to gain knowledge on ethical and responsible dolphin tourism that funds research and conservation

Dates: 25 January to 23 February

There is a once off fee of R22 200 which includes:

- Accommodation sharing 30 nights (Two meals per day)

- Training for specific tasks

- DolphinCare contribution

- Dedicated Acoustic Research Field trips ~ 3 p/week

- Mentoring by the Dolphin and Acoustic Research Team

- Dolphin Pack with t-shirts to be worn while working, certificate of attendance, pictures & dolphin diaries from your stay; information on our dolphins, research & interesting reference papers.

- Gear use (mask, snorkel and fins)

- Return private transfer from Maputo International

For more information please head over to https://www.dolphinencountours.org/blog/volunteer-february-is-acoustic-research-month <https://www.dolphinencountours.org/blog/volunteer-february-is-acoustic-research-month>

or to reserve your spot please email angie@dolphincare.org <mailto:research@dolphincare.org>

[mobilesysteminforu]

Согласно данным последних исследований, малоизученный вид дельфинов Sousa teuszii (Atlantic humpback dolphin, атлантические горбатые дельфины, западноафриканские дельфины), которые обитают лишь вдоль Атлантического побережья Западной Африки, попали в список самых редких африканских видов. Наряду с гориллами, гиеновидными собаками и черными носорогами этот вид может полностью исчезнуть. Список вымирающих видов африканского континента, по сообщению портала Phys.org, обновили эксперты американского Общества охраны природы (WCS) и специалисты Международного союза охраны природы и природных ресурсов (IUCN).

Недавний мониторинг состояния популяции западноафриканского дельфина показал, что вид находится в серьезной опасности на большей части своего ареала. "Наша недавняя проверка показывает, что общее поголовье атлантических горбатых дельфинов, вероятно, насчитывает менее 1500 взрослых размножающихся особей. И даже эти животные разделены на несколько изолированных популяций, большинство из которых слишком малы", - уверен представитель программы Ocean Giants Общества охраны природы и координатор африканской группы специалистов по китообразным Международного союза охраны природы Тим Коллинз.

Обычно атлантический горбатый дельфин достигает в длину 2,5 м. Их тело окрашено в серый цвет и имеет характерный вырост чуть ниже спинного плавника. Животные пугливы, чаще плавают в небольших группах и редко покидают прибрежную зону, шириной в несколько километров. Именно такая ограниченная территория обитания и делает их особенно восприимчивыми к действиям человека. К основным угрозам популяции ученые причисл��ют рыболовные сети, в которых запутываются дельфины, строительство на шельфе, развитие портов и охоту.

До сих пор предполагалось, что ареал западноафриканских дельфинов простирается более чем на 7 тыс. км вдоль прибрежных районов Западной Сахары вплоть до середины береговой линии Анголы. Однако данные эти детально не были проверены, и многие свидетельства появления горбатых дельфинов не проверялись. Теперь же для создания новой редакции списка уязвимых африканских млекопитающих ученые провели тщательную проверку всех данных, и выяснили, что атлантические горбатые дельфины встречаются в природе все реже. Размеры многих популяций уменьшились до критических значений, и со временем, по прогнозам биологов, ситуация будет ухудшаться. Поэтому охранный статус западноафриканских дельфинов решено было изменить с "уязвимого" на "находящийся под угрозой вымирания".

Охота на дельфинов у побережья Западной Африки продолжается, также как и рыболовство. Местные власти, по свидетельству экологов, не предпринимают попыток замедлить промышленное развитие прибрежных районов, постоянно сокращая территорию, доступную для проживания дельфинов. Не прилагается и усилий для осуществления рационального природопользования или ведения устойчивого рыболовства, считают авторы исследования.

Надежду на сохранение вида дают лишь несколько охраняемых морских акваторий, которые могут стать убежищем для западноафриканских дельфинов. В том числе, речь идет о недавно созданных морских заповедниках в Габоне.

"Составляя новый список видов, находящихся под угрозой исчезновения, мы надеялись привлечь внимание к проблеме и найти ресурсы для борьбы с прямыми и косвенными угрозами популяции атлантического горбатого дельфина. Также мы бы хотели определить профилактические меры, которые помогут защитить животных и сохранить места их обитания, хотя бы в ключевых зонах ареала", - отметил директор программы Ocean Giants Общества охраны природы и член группы специалистов по китообразным Международного союза охраны природы Говард Розенбаум.

"Негативный пример развития ситуации нам дает скорое вымирание калифорнийской морской свиньи. Этот вид - эндемик калифорнийского побережья Мексиканского залива. И его истреблением мы обязаны только лишь рыболовным сетям. Поэтому теперь нам след��ет не просто оценивать состояние прибрежных популяций мелких китообразных, таких как западноафриканские дельфины, но предвидеть, чем может обернуться для них наше бездействие", - заявил председатель комиссии по вопросам выживания видов Международного союза охраны природы Рэндал Ривз.

Вместе с результатами изучения западноафриканского дельфина, эксперты американского Общества охраны природы опубликовали также важные данные о горбатых дельфинах, обитающих в бассейнах Атлантического, Индийского и Тихого океана. Ученые определили, что всего существует четыре вида горбатых дельфинов: атлантический горбатый дельфин, индийский горбатый дельфин (Sousa plumbea), тихоокеанический горбатый дельфин, китайский белый дельфин (Sousa chinensis) и недавно описанный вид - австралийский длинноклювый дельфин (Sousa sahulensis).

Все четыре вида обитают в прибрежных районах и страдают от человеческой деятельности: запутываются в рыболовных сетях, теряют ареал из-за развития портов и усиления судоходства, получают ранения, сталкиваясь с катерами и становятся жертвами целенаправленной охоты. Горбатые дельфины из акватории Индийского океана причислены к видам, "находящимся под угрозой вымирания", а их сородичи индо-тихоокеанского и австралийского видов объявлены "уязвимыми".

mobilesysteminfo.ru

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[collectiveofanimals]

Chinese White Dolphin

Sousa chinensis

Sousa is a popular surname, and probably named after someone, while chinensis translates into coming from China. 

Family: Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)

Fun Fact: There is still a bit of confusion to the taxonomy to these dolphins, as the once thought of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is thought to be two seperate species (one in the Pacific, the Chinese White Dolphin, and the other in the Indian Ocean, the  S. plumbea). 

Habitat: They are endemic to reefs and coasts of the western Pacific Ocean from China to Australia.

Ecosystem Role: They help control fish and squid populations, while providing food for sharks. 

Conservation Status: Near Threatened 

[alinaroundtheworld-blog]

Wir konnten sie leider nicht selbst füttern, da wir ein kleines bisschen zu spät dran waren und kein Platz mehr für uns war und wir keinen Fisch mehr abbekommen haben. 😑 Sousa sahulensis ist eine erst 2014 als eigenständig erkannte Delfinart. Sie wurde nach ihrem Verbreitungsgebiet, dem flachen Sahulschelf zwischen dem Norden Australiens und Neuguinea benannt. An der australischen Küste reicht das Verbreitungsgebiet vom westaustralischen Ningaloo Reef bis zur Grenze zwischen Queensland und New South Wales. Zwischen dem Verbreitungsgebiet von Sousa sahulensis und dem seines nächsten Verwandten, des Chinesischen Weißen Delfins, liegt eine Lücke, die mit der Lücke zwischen Wallace-Linie und Lydekker-Linie übereinstimmt. Der für die Erstbeschreibung untersuchte Holotyp war ein 2,27 Meter langes, totes Männchen, das 1985 an der Saunders Beach, nordöstliches Queensland gefunden wurde. Die Maximallänge der Art liegt bei 2,70 Meter, Männchen werden etwas größer als Weibchen. Sousa sahulensis hat eine graue Färbung, dunkel auf der Rückenseite und heller am Bauch. Die Grenze zwischen dunkler Rückenfärbung und heller Bauchfärbung verläuft bogenförmig von den Augen bis zur Urogenitalregion. Ausgewachsene Exemplare besitzen oft unregelmäßige weiße oder rosafarbene Flecken auf dem Körper aber es bleiben große Bereiche dunkler Färbung und die Tiere hellen sich nicht völlig auf, wie es bei ausgewachsenen Chinesischen Weißen Delfinen der Fall sein kann. Jungtiere sind dunkler als die Ausgewachsenen. Die Finne ist bei Sousa sahulensis annähernd dreieckig und niedriger als beim Chinesischen Weißen Delfin. Ihre langgezogene Basis kann 14 bis 24 % der Körperlänge erreichen. Außerdem unterscheidet sich Sousa sahulensis in der Anzahl der Zähne je Oberkieferhälfte (31 bis 35 bei Sousa sahulensis, 32 bis 38 bei Sousa chinensis, 33 bis 39 bei Sousa plumbea und 27 bis 32 bei Sousa teuszii) und der Wirbel (50 bei S. sahulensis, 50 bis 53 bei S. chinensis, 49 bis 51 bei S. plumbea und 52 bis 53 bei S. teuszii) von seinen Verwandten. Der für die Gattung typische Rückenbuckel fehlt.