Lagenodelphis hosei, Fraser's Dolphin [+]

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Family Delphinidae Genus Lagenodelphis species: Lagenodelphis hosei [+ITIS +WoRMS]

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Description & Behavior

Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei (Fraser, 1956), aka Sarawak or Borneo dolphins, are stocky cetaceans with a short but distinct beak. Adults measure about 2 m in length and weigh up to 210 kg. They have a small, falcate (triangular) dorsal fin and small flippers and flukes. Their color varies with age and sex. Adults display a black stripe that extends down the length of the body, which is wider in adult males, absent or faint in juveniles, and variable in adult females. They also have a striped marking on the face. They are brown-gray in coloring with a lighter ventral side.

Fraser's dolphins form large schools consisting of hundreds and sometimes thousands of dolphins. These schools are often mixed with other cetaceans including: melon-headed whales, short-finned pilot whales, Risso's dolphins, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and sperm whales. In terms of human interaction, Fraser's dolphins have been described as a shy dolphin in some areas, but more approachable in others.

World Range & Habitat

Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei, can be found off the coasts of Brazil, Canary Islands, Japan, the Gulf of Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Africa, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Australia.

The distribution and population of this species is not well known, however Fraser's dolphins appear to be more common near the equator in the eastern tropical Pacific. It seems to be relatively scarce in the Atlantic Ocean, although it is seen from the Lesser Antilles, the Gulf of Mexico, and Venezuela. Infrequent sightings of Lagenodelphis hosei have been reported in the Indian Ocean near the east coast of South Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Fraser's dolphins are generally found in offshore waters, however they have been seen near shores surrounded by deep water such as Indonesia, the Lesser Antilles, and the Philippines.

Strandings have been reported in temperate areas, which may have resulted from El Niño events in 1983-84. A mass stranding was also reported in France during that time.

» GBIF occurrence data in Google Earth [Tips] | Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) (World Distribution) [about]

Feeding Behavior (Ecology)

Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei, feeds on deep water species, often diving to depths of 250-500 m to feed on mesopelagic (midwater open ocean) fishes, shrimps, and squids.

Life History

Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei, are thought to give birth to calves in spring and fall following a gestation period of about 12.5 months. Newborns measure about 110 cm in length.

Conservation Status/Additional Comments

Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei, populations are estimated at about 289,500 in the Pacific Ocean.

Small numbers of Fraser's dolphins are harpooned by subsistence hunters in the Indo-Pacific. This species has been harpooned by commercial interests selling the meat for bait and human consumption.

Fraser's dolphins are caught as bycatch by purse-seines used by the tuna fishery in the eastern Pacific, and some have been caught in gill nets in Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Dolphin hunting was banned in the Philippines in 1992, which has reduced the sale of dolphin meat on the open market.