The Burrunan Dolphin

Biology assignment #2 Tursiops australis, otherwise known as the Burrunan dolphin was recognized in 2011 south-east of Australia by Kate Charlton-Robb and colleagues. The Burrunan dolphin is a type of bottlenose dolphin. There are actually two new distinct species of Tursiops dolphins found in Australia that are under controversy. At one time, all Tursiops dolphins were recognized as belonging to T. truncates. However T. australis, T. truncates and T. aduncus are all distinctly recognized species found around Australia.
Methods of study were primarily based on physical appearance of the dolphin. Cranial measurements were taken from 40 commonly used measurements, as well as tooth counts from 18 specimens of bottlenose dolphins from across
Adults were characterized by the fusion between maxillae and cranium bones. Another method of study was the used of external morphology. 18 external morphometrics were taken from 17 bottlenose dolphins from coastal Victoria. Beach-casted dolphins were previously measured in 2002-2009. Some animals were excluded due to incomplete data, such as bloating due to decomposition, or if the specimen was still a juvenile. A third method of study was mitochondrial DNA sampling. Skin samples of dead beach-casted dolphins were taken from coastal Victoria and placed in a mixture of substances to create a saline solution. When skin samples were unavailable, tooth samples were taken from museum specimens. Tooth samples were stored in sterilized Falcon tubes, and decontaminated by a solution of sodium hypochloride. Sections were
truncates and T. aduncus. DNA tests were carried out to determine which species they were to be categorized under. Through these tests as well as external and internal cranial measurements, it was concluded that this was a new species of bottlenose dolphin. The new species in comparison to the two recognized Tursiops species differ in cranial characteristics as well as external morphology, the major differences being the overall size of the fully-grown adult body, the color variations and smaller beaks of the new species. The common name used to describe the species, Burrunan, is an Aboriginal name meaning “name of a large sea fish of the porpoise kind” to pay respect to the Aborigines that were on her research team. The Burrunan dolphin falls under the Kingdom Animalia, referring to animals, Class Mammalia which is describing mammals, Order Cetacea is known as marine mammals, Family Delphinidae classifies oceanic dolphins, and finally, Genus Tursiops is used to represent bottlenose dolphins as a