![]() ![]() In New Zealand common dolphins are caught in trawl fisheries each year. Large numbers of short-beaked common dolphins die in tuna purse seine fisheries in the eastern tropical Pacific and in set net fisheries around the world. Dolphins have also been spotted with shark-bite scars indicating that sharks may predate on this species. When under threat individuals can be seen moving closer together. ![]() Killer whales are the principal predators of common dolphins. Maximum age is estimated to be 22 years.Ĭommon dolphin pod in the Cook Strait Area Threats Predators Age at sexual maturity is estimated to vary with region but for the Pacific is thought to range from 7-12 years for males and 6-7 years for females. Gestation lasts for around 10-11 months and the calving interval varies from 1 to 3 years. These animals are vocal and show a wide range of acrobatic behaviour. Dives can last up to 8 minutes but are usually between 10 seconds and 2 minutes. They are known to dive to depths of 280 metres in search of prey and hunt cooperatively within schools. Diet and foragingĬommon dolphins feed on a variety of prey, including surface schooling fish species and small mid-water fish and squids. This species is abundant but precise population estimates are largely unknown. They are also known to associate with schools of pilot whales and other dolphin species such as dusky dolphins. In New Zealand, this species tends to remain a few kilometres from the coast and is particularly common in the Hauraki Gulf and off Northland.Ĭommon dolphin leaping out of the water, seen during a whale survey, Cook Strait Area PopulationĬommon dolphins may form enormous schools of several thousand individuals. Short-beaked common dolphins are found in waters throughout New Zealand and Australia. It is closely related to the long-beaked common dolphin ( Delphinus capensis) which prefers shallower and warmer water. ![]() The common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis) is found in offshore warm-temperate waters in the Atlantic and Pacific and is the most numerous dolphin within this range. The dorsal fin is high with a concave hind edge. Colours include purplish black, grey, white and yellowish tan. The colouration of this dolphin is very distinctive with a criss-cross or hour-glass type pattern centred on the flanks. Common dolphins found in New Zealand waters belong to the species now known as the short-beaked common dolphin. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |