Note on a stranded Humpback dolphin

On 17th September, 2015, a dead dolphin was found at Beypore beach, Kozhikode. On enquiry with local fishermen, it was reported to be washed ashore eight days before. It was identified as Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765) with the help of external characters especially the number of teeth. It had a stocky, robust body with a well-defined beak set off from the rounded melon. The specimen was a male measuring 107 cm in length and weighing about 18 kg