Species Lagenorhynchus obscurus (J.E. Gray, 1828)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Delphinus (Grampus) obscurus Gray, E.J. 1828. Spicilegia Zoologica; or original figures and short systematic descriptions of new and unfigured animals. London : Treuttel, Wurtz & Co. Part 1 8 pp., pls. I-VI. [2].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 41.1733 (stuffed skins of adults and young with skulls inside), Cape of Good Hope; whereabouts unknown adult with skull separate, Cape of Good Hope.
• Delphinus superciliosus Lesson, R.P. 1826. Description des mammifères. Ch. 3. in Lesson, R.P. & Garnot, P. Zoologie Pt 1 in Duperrey, M.L.I. Voyage Autour du Monde Exécuté par Ordre du Roi sur la Corvette de sa Majesté la Coquille Pendant les Années 1822, 1823, 1824 & 1825. Paris : Arthus Bertrand. [181].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, off South Cape, TAS.

  Secondary source:

   Hershkovitz, P. 1966. Catalog of living whales. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 246: viii 1-259.

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Hershkovitz, P. 1966. Catalog of living whales. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 246: viii 1-259 [64] (see also for synonyms based on non-Australian material)

 

Generic Combinations

• Lagenorhynchus obscurus (J.E. Gray, 1828).

 

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Vagrant; southern circumpolar, warm to cold temperate waters.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Ecological Descriptors

Gregarious, oceanic, pelagic, piscivore, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Diet also includes squid.

 

General References

Bannister, J.L., Kemper, C.M. & Warneke, R.M. 1996. The Action Plan for Australian Cetaceans. Canberra : Australian Nature Conservation Agency 242 pp.

Brownell, R.L. Jr & Cipriano, F. 1999. Dusky dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus. pp. 85-104 in Ridgway, S.H. & Harrison, R.J. (eds). Handbook of Marine Mammals. Volume 6. The second book of dolphins and the porpoises. London : Academic Press.

Gill, P.C., Ross, G.J.B., Dawbin, W.H. & Wapstra, H. 2000. Confirmed sightings of dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) in southern Australian waters. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 452-459

Leatherwood, S. & Reeves, R.R. 1983. The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. San Francisco : Sierra Club Books xviii 302 pp.

Pearson, J. 1936. The whales and dolphins of Tasmania. Part 1. External characters and habits. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1935: 164-192

Van Waerebeek, K. & Würsig, B. 2002. Pacific white-sided dolphin and dusky dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens and Lagenorhynchus obscurus. pp. 859-961 in Perrin, W.F., Wursig, B. & Thewissen, J.G.M. (eds). Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. San Diego : Academic Press.

Watson, L. 1981. Sea Guide to Whales of the World. London : Hutchinson 302 pp.

 

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Dusky Dolphin)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
11-Jun-2024		11-Jun-2024	MOVED
11-Jun-2024		11-Jun-2024	MOVED
16-Dec-2010		16-Oct-2013	MODIFIED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)