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Home -> Kingdom Animalia -> Phylum Chordata -> Subphylum Vertebrata -> Class Mammalia -> Order Cetacea -> Suborder Odontoceti -> Family Delphinidae -> Species Lagenodelphis hosei

Lagenodelphis hosei
Fraser's dolphin



2008/08/03 00:21:30.958 GMT-4

By Bret Weinstein

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Lagenodelphis
Species: Lagenodelphis hosei

Geographic Range

These dolphins are restricted to tropical and subtropical waters.

Biogeographic Regions:
indian ocean (native ); atlantic ocean (native ); pacific ocean (native ).

Reproduction

Breeding season
Breeding appears to be year-round with a possible peak in the summer months.

Gestation period
11 months (average)

Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
7 years (average)

Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
7 years (average)

Breeding appears to be year-round with a possible peak in the summer months. The gestation period is thought to be about 11 months. Sexual maturity of both sexes occurs at about seven years of age. There is no sexual dimorphism except in the size and shape of the dorsal-fin, with male fins being larger than female fins.

Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous .

Behavior

No predation on this species has been observed, but killer whales, false killer whales and sharks probably occasionally take these dolphins as prey. Fraser's dolphins are often found with other whales, especially melon-headed whales, but also pilot whales and many other dolphin species. Groups tend to be large, ranging from 100-2500. When fleeing from ships, these dolphins can reach speeds of 28 km/h.

Key behaviors:
natatorial ; motile ; social .

Food Habits

Fraser's dolphins primarily eat fish, but they also feed on squid, cuttlefish and shrimp. There is strong evidence that these animals prefer to feed at depths of 250-500 meters and rarely at the surface.

Primary Diet:
carnivore (piscivore ).

Animal Foods:
fish; mollusks; aquatic crustaceans.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Because they do not feed at the surface, they do not compete with fisherman for tuna or other pelagic fish.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

People in many Asian cultures hunt this species for food.

Conservation Status

CITES Appendix 2

Contributors

Bret Weinstein (author), University of Michigan.

References

Mammalian Species #470

Walker's Mammals of the World, fifth edition; Nowak, R. ed.; 1991; Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 990-991

2008/08/03 00:21:33.289 GMT-4

To cite this page: Weinstein, B. 1999. "Lagenodelphis hosei" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed August 20, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lagenodelphis_hosei.html.

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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