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Dusky Dolphin — printable fact sheet
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Dusky Dolphin
Lagenorhynchus obscurus
Lagenorhynchus obscurus is the acrobat of the southern oceans, a compact dolphin of cool coastal water off New Zealand, Peru, Argentina and southern Africa, and it leaps more, and more extravagantly, than almost any other cetacean. Its repertoire runs from low arcing "noisy leap…
Did you know?
- Dusky dolphins can communicate using a wide variety of whistles, clicks, and body movements, and their societies have been studied for their remarkable cooperation and intelligence.
- Kaikoura's dusky dolphins hunt in water more than a kilometre deep at night by riding the vertical migration of lanternfish and squid up towards the surface, so they never have to dive far. A dusky can execute a complete backflip clear of the water, and individuals will repeat the same leap style dozens of times in a row. They are small — usually under 2 m and around 70-85 kg — which is part of why they are so agile. Peruvian populations have been heavily killed for meat and bait, making them one of the most exploited small cetaceans in South America.
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