The hectors and Maui’s dolphin

This is a report about the Hectors dolphin and Maui’s dolphin (cephlorhynchus hectori) (native to New Zealand) if you want to learn more read this report about it is really cool.

Description

Hectors dolphins are about as long as a bicycle. The hectors dolphin adults can grow to a length of a1.2-1.6 can grow up to 1.4 meters long. The have blowholes on top of their heads. Hectors Dolphins have two fins one tail and one unique rounded dorsal fin. The hectors/Maui’s dolphin doesn't have bottle shaped nose. The forehead slopes down to the tip. The colors of the hectors/Maui’s dolphin with areas of grey, black and white. The sides of the head flippers, dorsal fin and tail are all black. The tummy is white except for a few spots close to the flippers. From the tummy there is a line going down to the tail it is white. And the rest of the body is grey.

Unique

Hectors dolphin is named after sir James Hector (1834-1907) Hectors Dolphins are mammals’ just like humans. They are unique to New Zealand because they are only found in New Zealand waters. Hectors Dolphins. Breathe air with their blowholes. Hectors Dolphins swim really fast through the water. Hectors Dolphins move their tails up and to swim. Hectors Dolphins steer with their tails to swim. Hectors Dolphins jump out of the water hectors Dolphins play together. The north island hectors dolphin is the rarest dolphin in the world. The hectors dolphin can fit in a bath tub!!! There only about 8,000 hector dolphin left in the world! And only about 111 North Island hectors (Maui’s) dolphin. The hectors dolphin is in a family of 32 species of delphinidae worldwide. The hectors and Maui’s dolphin have a layer of fat called blubber witch is 3 cm thick. The hectors and Maui’s dolphin can here through there jaw bone. A major threat to hectors and Maui’s dolphins is set nets and trawling it is responsible for 60% of all deaths of dolphins because they get tangled in the nets and drown. Hectors and Maui’s dolphins they are warm blooded (mammals) they have live babies and nurse there young on milk. They have warm blood and drink from there mums milk. They breathe from the air too.

Habitat

The hectors dolphin lives in the in the north island and the south island are separate subspecies. South island is called the hectors dolphin and the north island is called the Maui’s (hectors) dolphin. The south island hector dolphin lives around the coast of the south island mainly close to the west coast and around Christchurch. A small group Maui’s (hector) dolphin live off the coast of the north island mainly in kawhia and muriwai there only 111 left in the world.    

How do you spot a hectors/Maui’s dolphin?

In all of New Zealand waters the hectors/Maui’s dolphin is the only dolphin that has a rounded dorsal fin it looks like a Mickey Mouse ear. You will mainly find them in the south island. If you do find a hectors/Maui’s dolphin call the    

What it eats

A big part of the day is taken up with them eating. They use Eco-location to find food there echoes can tell them were a fish is. And how far it is away from them. And how fast it is going. And what type of fish it is hector dolphins on the east coast of New Zealand. Have mainly been seen eating arrow squid, ahuru, red cod, sole, yellow- eyed mullet, stargazer and sprat, mullet, crab and. And it eats certain types of fish.      

CONCLUSION

This report has given you lots of info about hectors and Maui’s dolphins. And where it lives and were it is found. what it eats and how you spot. What it is unique to and what it looks like.