Identification sheet (English) on how to identify wild marine mammals in Singapore. By the Singapore Wild Marine Mammal Survey (SWIMMS) http://www.tmsi.nus.edu.sg/mmrl with permission from SWIMMS.

1. IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION SHEET
Marine Mammal Research Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute
National University of Singapore
14 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119223.
Phone: (65) 6516 5587 Fax: (65) 6776 1455
Email: swimms@nus.edu.sg
Website: www.tmsi.nus.edu.sg/mmrl
SWiMMS hotline / SMS: 8100 8022
Indo Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis)
Beak (jaw) Dorsal fin
Maximum body length : about 2.8 m (9.2 ft)1
Maximum body weight : about 280 kg1
Colour varies with age from dark grey when young to pink when adult.
Young adults appear speckled grey and pink.
Elongated hump on back with small, triangular dorsal fin.
Beak (jaw) exposed when surfacing, arches back and raises tail flukes when
diving. Generally slow swimmer, rarely bow-rides and avoids boats. Generally
seen in small groups of 5 - 6 animals. Feed mainly on fish. Prefer lagoons,
estuaries and mangroves.
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus aduncus / Tursiops aduncus)
Maximum body length : about 2.7 m1 (8.9 ft)
Maximum body weight : about 230 kg1
Dark grey in colour with pale sometimes pink underside.
Distinct beak (jaw) and prominent dorsal fin.
Typically show forehead but not beak (jaw) when surfacing. Highly active, often
bow-ride and breach. Frequently seen in groups of 6 - 8 animals or more. Feed
mainly on fish but also on squid and crustaceans.
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2. Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)
Maximum body length : about 2.8 m1 (9.2 ft)
Average weight : about 115 - 130 kg1
Dark grey in color with pale underside.
Small dorsal fin, well behind midpoint of body.
Slow swimmer, barely disturbs water when surfacing. Blow (breathing sound)
usually loud. Generally seen in small groups fewer than 6. Feed mainly on fish
but also like squid and crustaceans. Like to inhabit estuaries, mangroves and
rivers.
Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)
Blowhole
Maximum body length : about 1.7 m1 (5.6 ft)
Weight : about 40 kg
Dark grey in color.
Small, round head, no beak (protruding jaw) or dorsal fin.
Shy. Swim with quick, darting movements. Barely disturb water when surfacing.
Mainly seen as single animals or in pairs. Feed mainly on crustaceans but also
like squid and fish.
Dugong (Dugong dugon)
Nostrils
Maximum body length : about 3.3 m1 (10.8 ft)
Weight : about 420 kg
Grey-brown in color.
Broad, flat muzzle with two nostrils on top of snout, no dorsal fin.
Adult dugongs may develop tusks. Often have a lot of scars on their backs.
Frequent coastal waters, shallow protected bays, mangrove channels and inshore
islands. Feed on seagrass. Discrete when surfacing, often only their nostrils
appear above the surface. Slow moving.
1 & Illustrations Jefferson, T.A., Webber, M.A. & Pitman, R.L.(2008). Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to their Identification. (1st Ed).
Academic Press.
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Funded by: