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Dolphin Species: Hump-Back Dolphins
Sousa teuszii.

Usually seen in groups of two to ten, hump-backed dolphins do not seem to develop strong social bonds. Researchers speculate, however, that the animals are part of larger groups that maintain their identities over time. A distinct breeding season has not been observed, although calving increases during the summer months.

Unlike Tursiops, Sousa do not bowride. The surfacing styles of the two genera are different. Hump-backed dolphins fully expose their rostrum and melon, unlike most bottlenose dolphins, then sharply roll and arch their backs to accentuate their humps. To dive, they flex far forward and often expose their flukes, with a distinctive notch between them, before disappearing beneath the surface.

Feeding on nearshore, estuarine, and reef fish, the dolphins are seldom spotted more than one kilometer offshore. Some have even been reported in rivers, though it is not known if they reside in them or were merely visiting.

One of the best known stories of dolphin-human interaction occurs at Cap Timiris in western Africa. There, Atlantic hump-backed dolphins cooperate with Mauritanian fishermen to catch mullet. When the fishermen spot a school of the fish, they beat on the water with sticks to attract the dolphins. The dolphins then drive the mullet into the fishermen's nets along the beach.

Accidental drowning in fishing nets and occasional hunting for human consumption were historically the greatest threats to the hump-backs. A new concern has arisen with the development of African and Asian countries as mangrove and estuarine habitat is destroyed. These dolphins have not been studied in great detail, so the health of the population is questionable.

Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood, and M.A. Webber. FAO Species Identification Guide: Marine Mammals of the World. FAO. Rome, 1993

Leatherwood, S., and R. Reeves. The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. Sierra Club Books. San Francisco. 1983. By Laurie Stepanek

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