SPECIES: Sousa sahulensis — Australian Humpback Dolphin
CLASSIFICATION: Vulnerable
Elusive, intelligent, and uniquely Australian — the Australian Humpback Dolphin, is one of our least understood marine mammals. Found only in the warm, shallow coastal waters of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, this dolphin is named for the small hump just in front of its dorsal fin. Adults have a stocky build and a distinctive pale grey to pinkish colouration, often seen alone or in small groups cruising near estuaries, mangroves and sandy bays.
Listed as vulnerable, the Australian Humpback Dolphin is threatened bicoastal development, vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglement, pollution and the degradation of critical habitat. Its small, fragmented populations and low reproduction rate mean every loss has an impact. Living so close to shore, these dolphins are highly exposed to human activity — and that’s part of the problem.