Maui Dolphin

Maui Dolphin




The Maui Dolphin is the one of the most endangered species in Aotearoa/ New Zealand.

Common name Maui Dolphin

Scientific Name Cephalorhynchus Hectori Maui


Physical Description

Maui Dolphin grows up 1.2 to 1.5 meters in length and weighs up to 50 kgs. They have half distinct round shaped dorsal fins. They are shiny too.



Habitat Location

They are found only in the shallow coastal waters along western shores of New Zealand's North Island. Also they are always under the water 20 meters deep. They are always far away from land.



Diet

The Maui Dolphins feed on heaps of kind fish such as Red Cod, Ahuru, and Sole. They feed throughout the water column, on both bottom-dwelling fish and free swimming prey.



Reproduction cycle:

Due to the small population of the Maui Dolphin they grow very slow. The Dolphin mature around 7-9 years old and can give birth every 2-4 years old. Maui Dolphins might grow 2% a year.

Current Population Numbers

The scientist estimated that there are 62 left in the world. The Maui dolphin population has gone down from around 1500 in the 1970s.

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Reasons for species are endangered

Because they keep dying from nets and now there is only a small left. They Keep dying from gill nets and trawls nets.

Future outlook

In 2050 the whole of the Maui dolphins will be extinct and none will be alive.

Task Description:

For this task we had to write about a endangered species in New Zealand. We researched the species and found interesting facts about it.