Also known as the
Chinese White Dolphin, the Speckled Dolphin, or the Pink Dolphin, it belongs to
the Platanistidae family of Cetacea order. Its Latin scientific name is Sousa
chinensis, and English name is Indo-pacific Hump-backed Dolphin.
The whole
body of the adult ones is milky white, so it gets the name White Fin. Both the
belly and tail are pink. Many anomalous grayish black spots are spreading on the
back, body sides, dorsal fin, fin limb back and tail fin back. Its body back is
gray, and the belly is in lighter color.
They frequently take a rest and gather in
offshore beach of estuarine, and prey on fishes along sea area with reefs.
Mostly 3 to 7 heads form a group. Sometimes they leave ocean and go against the
river up to tens of kilometers to chase fish.
In China, it is mainly distributed in
southeast coastal regions, Xiamen City of Fujian Province, Zhujiang of Guangdong
Province and surrounding sea areas of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
It belongs to rare marine animals and has been listed in Appendix I of
International Trade Convention on Endangered Wild Animal and Plant
Species. It is the mascot on the event of Hong Kong's returning to China in
1997. In Xiamen City of Fujian Province, a nature reserve for White Fin at
national level has been established; in Zhujiang Estuarine of Guangdong
Province, a nature reserve for White Fin at provincial level has also been
established; and Hong Kong SAR government has established a nature reserve for
it in Hong Kong, too.