Chinese White Dolphin

ID points

• Adults pinkish white, calves dark grey, paling with age
• A distinct raised hump at the base of the dorsal fin
• Stays only in shallow coastal water and estuaries

Basics

Family

Delphinidae

Length

2.0–2.8 m

Depth

0-25 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

South China Sea and coastal Southeast Asia

Habitat

Shallow coastal waters and estuaries

Diet

Inshore fish

Easily confused with

Common DolphinAn hourglass patch of cream and pale grey on the flankOrcaSharply black and white, with a white oval patch behind the eyeStriped DolphinSeveral fine dark blue stripes run from the eye to the vent

Fun fact

Grey as a calf, it slowly turns pink with age. So few are left that it is nicknamed the giant panda of the sea, and it holds China's highest level of state protection.

More in this family

• Bottlenose Dolphin
• False Killer Whale
• Pilot Whale
• Spinner Dolphin