A previously unknown dolphin has been discovered by Australian scientists in their nations southern waters. Until now it was believed that there were just two species of bottlenose dolphins -- the common bottlenose, generally found in offshore waters, and the more-coastal Indo-Pacific species. However, genetic samples recently collected from coastal dolphins revealed unexpected results -- DNA testing of ~200 mammals off Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania for a population study highlighted that they were not coastal bottlenose dolphins at all.

The researchers suspect that the new species, and the previously known coastal bottlenose dolphins, probably separated “quite recently … in the past few million years”. The DNA tests suggested the new species was probably more closely related to the Fraser’s dolphin, from the deep waters of the Pacific. They believe the limited range of the new species meant it deserved special protection, since their coastal habitat will result in these dolphins having a higher vulnerability to threats such as pollution, overfishing and entanglement in nets.

Source: Cryptomundo » New Dolphin Discovered



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