Oceanic  Dolphins  and  Allies  -  Superfamily:  Delphinoidea


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            Common  Dolphin  -  Delphinus delphis      

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            Indo-Pacific  Bottlenose  Dolphin  -  Tursiops aduncus

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            Bottlenose  Dolphin  -  Tursiops truncatus   

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      Over the years there have been numerous recorded sightings of other species in the family: Delphinidae.  Many of these sightings have occurred out at sea, others have been of washed up specimens, either dead or still alive.   They are not here regarded as species that normally may be seen in the Northern Rivers region and are therefor not treated as such, above.   For those that are interested, here is a list of species that have been recorded locally or that have been recorded on the East Coast nearby.  (All records are outside of normal ranges.)
Pygmy Killer Whale  -  Feresa attenuata
Short-Finned Pilot Whale  -  Globicephala macrorhynchus 
Long-Finned Pilot Whale  -  Globicephala melas
 Risso's Dolphin  -  Grampus griseus
   Fraser's Dolphin  -  Lagenodelphis hosei
Australian Snubfin Dolphin  -  Orcaella heinsohni
  Killer Whale  -  Orcinus orca
Melon-headed Whale  -  Peponocephala electra
  False Killer Whale  -  Pseudorca crassidens
Indo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphin  -  Sousa plumbea
Australian Hump-backed Dolphin  -  Sousa sahulensis
Rough-toothed Dolphin  -  Steno bredanensis
The above list has been compiled using information available on the 'Atlas of Living Australia' website.

Taxonomy:
 
Phylum:   Chordata    (Chordates)
          > Subphylum:    Vertebrata    (Vertebrates)
                    > Class:   Mammalia    (Mammals)
                              > Subclass:   Theria    (Live-bearing  Mammals)
                                        > Infraclass:   Placentalia    (Placental Mammals)
                                                  > Superorder:   Laurasiatheria    (Ungulates,  Carnivores  and  Allies)
                                                            > Order:   Artiodactyla    (Even-toed  Ungulates  and  Cetaceans)
                                                                      > Suborder:   Whippomorpha    (Cetaceans  and  Hippopotamuses)
                                                                                > Infraorder:   Cetacea    (Cetaceans)
                                                                                          > Parvorder:   Odontoceti    (Toothed Whales)
                                                                                                    > Family:  Delphinidae    (Oceanic  Dolphins)  
                                                                                                              > Genus:   Delphinus
                                                                                                                        > Species:   D. delphis  -  Common Dolphin
                                                                                                              > Genus:   Tursiops
                                                                                                                        > Species:   T. aduncus  -  Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin   
                                                                                                                        > Species:   T. truncatus  -  Common Bottlenose Dolphin

References  and  links:
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      Bryden, M., Marsh, H. and Shaughnessy, P. (1998).  Dugongs, Whales, Dolphins and Seals. A guide to the sea mammals of Australasia.  Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, Australia.
      Edgar, Graham, (2019) Tropical Marine Life of Australia, New Holland Publishers, Chatswood, N.S.W.
​        Strahan, L. (Editor in Chief), (1983) The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife;  The Complete Book of Australian Mammals,  Angus and Robertson, Melbourne.
      Van Dyck, Steve, Gynther, Ian. and Baker, Andrew.  (2013)   Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia,  New Holland Publishers, Chatswood, N.S.W.
        Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds), (1989). Fauna of Australia. Vol. 1B Mammalia. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.


​        https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/bottlenose-dolphin
        https://www.dolphinresearchaustralia.org/dolphin-sighting-network/dolphin-identification-guide/
        https://www.environment.gov.au/marine/marine-species/cetaceans/species-found-australian-waters

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