THERE are at least two species of bottlenose dolphins, not just one, say John
Wang of McMaster University in Ontario and his colleagues. Conservation
strategies must be adapted accordingly, the researchers argue.
The group studied the bones of 71 dolphins from the waters off Taiwan, and
found two distinct types (Journal of Zoology, vol 252, p 147). “The
number of vertebrae and features of the skull were quite distinct,” says team
member Bradley White, confirming the results of an earlier DNA analysis. The
team is especially concerned about the smaller species it has provisionally
named Tursiops aduncus, which is…
