The Atlantic humpback dolphin is a coastal species endemic to tropical and subtropical eastern Atlantic nearshore waters of western Africa, ranging from Morocco to Angola. This species occurs exclusively in shallow (<30 m) depths, in warm nearshore waters, and in dynamic habitats strongly influenced by tidal patterns (e.g., sandbanks, deltas, estuaries, and mangrove systems).
Atlantic humpback dolphin populations are small and fragmented, ranging from the tens to low hundreds of individuals. Available information indicates that the species probably includes fewer than 3,000 individuals.
Threats to the Atlantic humpback dolphin include fisheries bycatch and prey depletion, deliberate capture, coastal development, and anthropogenic noise. Bycatch of Atlantic humpback dolphins in artisanal gillnets is considered widespread throughout the species’ range and is the primary threat facing the species.
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Mammalia | Order | Cetacea | Family | Delphinidae | Genus | Sousa | Species | teuszii |
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Gray whales were nearly hunted to extinction by commercial whaling. Protections under the MMPA, ESA, and the end of commercial whaling have allowed the species to recover. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #19091).
Finback whales. Credit: NOAA Fisheries