Studies of Tasmanian cetacea. Part III. Tursiops tursio. Southern form

• Main Authors: Scott, Herbert Hedley, Lord, Clive Errol
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1919
• Subjects: Royal Society of Tasmania; Van Diemens Land; VDL; Hobart Town; natural sciences; proceedings; records; Orca
• Online Access: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/15862/; https://eprints.utas.edu.au/15862/1/scott-tas-cetacea-III-1919.pdf

In foregoing papers we have dealt with (i.) Orca gladiator, Pseudorca crassidens, Globicephalus melas, and (ii.) Ziphius cavirostris. In the present instance we desire to place on record certain data relating to Tursiops tursio, and to show reasons why it should be included as an inhabitant of the Australian Zone. In a succeeding paper we hope to publish certain facts concerning D. delphis. The genus Tursiops should not be confounded with that of Tursio, which latter genus, with very little readjustment, might well be relegated to mere specific rank, for it is closely involved with other genera—for example, Prodelphus. Gray used the designation Tursio in 1862, but, as it had been previously used by Wagler for another genus, Grays designation lapsed, and Tursiops was substituted. Tursio, however, is still retained for its correct genus, which explains why care must be taken to differentiate between the two genera.