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Story: Dolphins

Southern right whale dolphins

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Southern right whale dolphins

Southern right whale dolphins are seen only occasionally, being a mainly offshore species. Like right whales, they lack a dorsal fin. Instead, their stability comes from their unusual body shape, which is wider than it is deep. They are normally black and white, but entirely black individuals have also been seen.

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Dolphins – Common dolphins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4664/southern-right-whale-dolphins (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 September 2015.