Dusky dolphin  (Lagenorhynchus obscurus)

Description

Originally named ‘Fitzroy’s dolphin’ by Charles Darwin after the Captain of the Beagle (5), the dusky dolphin is a relatively small, compact dolphin, easily recognised by the evenly sloping head from the blowhole to the tip of the snout, which lacks a beak. As the common name suggests, the back and tail of this species are a dusky bluish-black, with a dark band running diagonally across the flanks to the tail. The underside is white and the tips of the snout and lower jaw are dark. A grey area runs from the eye to the flipper, and two cream stripes extend from the tail to the blunt dorsal fin (2) (6).

Darwin Now is the British Council's contribution to the international celebration of the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150 year anniversary of the publication of On The Origin of Species
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