Burrunan dolphin
Encyclopedia
The Burrunan dolphin is a recently-described species of bottlenose dolphin
found in parts of Victoria, Australia. By size, the Burrunan dolphin is between the other two species of bottlenose dolphin and only around 150 individuals have been found in two locations.
, and colleagues. The dolphin's common name, Burrunan, is an Aboriginal
name in the Boonwurrung
, Woiwurrung and Taungurung
languages, meaning "large sea fish of the porpoise kind". The species name australis is the Latin
adjective "southern", and refers to the Australian range of the dolphin.
The Burrunan dolphin was thought to be one of the two recognised species of bottlenose dolphin
. Some differences had been noted, but for a long time there was not enough evidence to classify it as its own species. However, an examination of their skulls, external characteristics and DNA from old and current samples revealed unique characteristics which resulted in its classification as a separate species by researchers in a paper submitted on 27 January 2011 and published on 14 September 2011. It is the third time since the late 19th century that a new dolphin species has been recognised.
extending over the head and sides of the body. Along the midline it is a lighter gray which extends as a blaze over on the side near the dorsal fin. Ventrally it is off-white, which reaches over the eye and the flipper in some instances. It is smaller than the common bottlenose dolphin
but larger than the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
, measuring between 2.27–2.78 m (7.4–9.1 ft) in length.
and the other in the Gippsland Lakes
. Their combined population has been estimated as about 150 dolphins (100 in Port Phillip and 50 in Gippsland). Additionally, T. australis haplotype
s have been documented in dolphins located in waters off eastern Tasmania, and in coastal waters of South Australia in the Spencer Gulf
region and west to St Francis Island. The initial report on the Burrunan dolphin suggested that the low volume of individuals found might immediately qualify the species for protection under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
found in parts of Victoria, Australia. By size, the Burrunan dolphin is between the other two species of bottlenose dolphin and only around 150 individuals have been found in two locations.
Taxonomy
The species was formally named Tursiops australis by the researcher who discovered the species, Kate Charlton-Robb of Monash UniversityMonash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, and colleagues. The dolphin's common name, Burrunan, is an Aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
name in the Boonwurrung
Bunurong
The Bunurong are Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation, who occupy South-Central Victoria, Australia. Prior to European settlement, they lived as all people of the Kulin nation lived, sustainably on the land, predominantly as hunters and gatherers, for tens of thousands of years...
, Woiwurrung and Taungurung
Taungurong
The Taungurong people, also known as the Daung Wurrung, were nine clans who spoke the Daungwurrung language and were part of the Kulin alliance of indigenous Australians. They lived to the north of and were closely associated with the Woiwurrung speaking Wurundjeri people...
languages, meaning "large sea fish of the porpoise kind". The species name australis is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective "southern", and refers to the Australian range of the dolphin.
The Burrunan dolphin was thought to be one of the two recognised species of bottlenose dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
. Some differences had been noted, but for a long time there was not enough evidence to classify it as its own species. However, an examination of their skulls, external characteristics and DNA from old and current samples revealed unique characteristics which resulted in its classification as a separate species by researchers in a paper submitted on 27 January 2011 and published on 14 September 2011. It is the third time since the late 19th century that a new dolphin species has been recognised.
Description
The Burrunan dolphin is dark bluish-gray at the top near to the dorsal finDorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
extending over the head and sides of the body. Along the midline it is a lighter gray which extends as a blaze over on the side near the dorsal fin. Ventrally it is off-white, which reaches over the eye and the flipper in some instances. It is smaller than the common bottlenose dolphin
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus, commonly known as the Common Bottlenose Dolphin, is the most well-known species from the family Delphinidae.Common bottlenose dolphins are the most familiar dolphins due to the wide exposure they receive in captivity in marine parks, dolphinarias, in movies, and television...
but larger than the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is a species of bottlenose dolphin. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin grows to long, and weigh up to . It lives in the waters around India, northern Australia, South China, the Red Sea, and the eastern coast of Africa. Its back is dark grey and its belly...
, measuring between 2.27–2.78 m (7.4–9.1 ft) in length.
Distribution
Only two resident populations of the Burrunan dolphin have been identified, one in Port PhillipPort Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
and the other in the Gippsland Lakes
Gippsland Lakes
The Gippsland Lakes are a network of lakes, marshes and lagoons in east Gippsland, Victoria, Australia covering an area of about 600 km2. The largest of the lakes are Lake Wellington , Lake King and Lake Victoria. They are fed by the Avon, Thomson, Latrobe, Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo...
. Their combined population has been estimated as about 150 dolphins (100 in Port Phillip and 50 in Gippsland). Additionally, T. australis haplotype
Haplotype
A haplotype in genetics is a combination of alleles at adjacent locations on the chromosome that are transmitted together...
s have been documented in dolphins located in waters off eastern Tasmania, and in coastal waters of South Australia in the Spencer Gulf
Spencer Gulf
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
region and west to St Francis Island. The initial report on the Burrunan dolphin suggested that the low volume of individuals found might immediately qualify the species for protection under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.