About Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765)
Scientific Nomenclature
This species is the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, with the scientific name Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765).
Adult Coloration
Adult Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are grey, white, or pink, and may sometimes be mistaken for albino dolphins by some people. Populations along the coasts of China and Thailand have been observed to have pink skin.
Pink Coloration Cause
This pink color does not come from a pigment, but instead from overdeveloped blood vessels used for thermoregulation.
Body Length
Adult body length ranges from 2 to 3.5 m (6 ft 7 in to 11 ft 6 in), while infant body length is around 1 m (3 ft 3 in).
Adult Weight
Adults weigh between 150 to 230 kg (330 to 510 lb).
Lifespan
Analysis of the dolphins' teeth shows they can live up to 40 years.
Juvenile Coloration and Size at Birth
Calves are dark grey or black at birth, and measure around 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. As they age, their color lightens through a mottled grey stage.
Sexual Maturity Age
For reproduction, female Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins reach sexual maturity at around ten years old, while males reach sexual maturity at around 13 years old.
Mating Period
They usually mate from the end of summer to autumn.
Gestation and Calf Birth
Calves are born after an eleven-month gestation period.
Calf Dependency Period
Mothers stay with their calves until the calves can find food on their own, which typically happens when the calf reaches 3–4 years old.
