MAUI DOLPHIN

Maui dolphin

Scott Baker, Leigh Torres

Latin name: Cephalorhynchus hectori maui

The Maui dolphin, a subspecies of the New Zealand Hector’s dolphin, is found only along the northwest coast of North Island. The subspecies has declined to an estimated 63 individuals primarily as a result of fisheries-related mortality over the last few decades. The New Zealand government has imposed a number of fisheries closures in an effort to protect the remaining dolphins. Dr. Scott Baker has been involved in describing the genetic identity of this subspecies and in estimating abundance and trends in the population using DNA profiling for genotype capture-recapture.

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Did you know? Maui dolphins are the world's rarest dolphin with less than 60 adults in the population.

Publications: 

Derville, S.*, R. Constantine, C. S. Baker, M. Oremus, and L. G. Torres $, IC, EA, A, W. 2016. Environmental correlates of nearshore habitat distribution by the critically endangered Māui dolphin. Marine Ecology Progress Series 551:261-275.