Humpback dolphin fact file
Humpback dolphins are found in small pods, usually consisting of two to four individuals, but a maximum of 25 has been recorded.
October is National Marine Month. It is a time to focus on marine and coastal environments and the benefits that our oceans bring to the world.
The humpback dolphin is a rare species of dolphin – with a distinctive hump on its back – that is becoming increasingly endangered.
• They are stockily built, with a long slender beak and distinct hump on the back, under the dorsal fin.
• Males grow to 2.8m and females to 2.5m, with a maximum weight of 285kg.
• Humpback dolphin calves are born at around 1m in length and 14kg; they are generally darker in colour than the adults.
• The calves will be weaned at around two years of age, but from as early as six months they will start mixing milk with solid food. It seems that they give birth every three to four years.
• Humpback dolphins are found in small pods, usually consisting of two to four individuals, but a maximum of 25 has been recorded.
Did you know oceans generate most of the oxygen we breathe, regulate our climate and help feed people?
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