title: Observations on Australian Humpback Dolphins (Sousa sahulensis) in Waters of the Pacific Islands and New Guinea.
abstract: The Australian humpback dolphin, Sousa sahulensis, has recently been described to occur in northern Australian coastal waters. However, its distribution in adjacent waters of the Pacific Islands and New Guinea remains largely unknown. Although there have been few studies conducted on inshore dolphins in these regions, the available information records humpback dolphins primarily from the Kikori Delta in Papua New Guinea, and Bird's Head Seascape in West Papua. Research in southern Papua New Guinea indicates that humpback dolphins are indeed S. sahulensis, based on cranial and external morphometrics, external colouration and the preliminary genetic analysis presented here. A similar situation exists for the Australian snubfin dolphin, Orcaella heinsohni, where it is assumed that the species also occurs along the Sahul Shelf coastal waters of northern Australia and New Guinea. There are anecdotal reports of direct catch of Australian humpback dolphins for use as shark bait, coastal development is increasing, and anthropogenic impacts will continue to escalate as human populations expand into previously uninhabited regions. Future research and management priorities for the Governments of the Pacific Islands and Indonesia will need to focus on inshore dolphins in known regional hotspots, as current bycatch levels appear unsustainable.
authors.affiliation: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: isabel.beasley@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.affiliation: South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; University of Zurich, Anthropological Institute and Museum, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jedensjö
authors.affiliation: Marine Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Gede Mahendra
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Wijaya
authors.affiliation: National Museum and Art Gallery, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anamiato
authors.affiliation: APEX Environmental Pty. Ltd., Kerobokan, Bali, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.affiliation: Yayasan Konservasi RASI, Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia, Komplek Pandan Harum Indah, Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kreb
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004289:Dolphins / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D056727:Endangered Species; D009512:New Guinea; D010139:Pacific Islands; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Australian humpback dolphin; Pacific Islands; Papua New Guinea; Sahul Shelf; Sousa sahulensis; West Papua