Tursiops Australis, New Dolphin Species Discovered (VIDEO)

A new dolphin species has been found off the Southern Australian coast.

The BBC points to this article in the PLoS ONE journal, which reported on DNA studies and other analysis used to show that the Tursiops Australis species is in fact a previously undiscovered dolphin.

The newly classified "Burrunan dolphin" was previously believed to be one of the known bottlenose dolphins, according to the BBC.

"This is an incredibly fascinating discovery as there have only been three new dolphin species formally described and recognized since the late 1800s," researcher Kate Charlton-Robb said, according to AFP.

Sky News Australia reports that Charlton-Robb said that more research is needed to determine whether there are more than the 150 known Burrunan dolphins in Australia.

WATCH footage of the dolphins, courtesy of The Canberra Times, supplied by Monash University:

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Comments

[Andre Fabre]

02:40 PM on 09/16/2011

Let's see how long it takes for us humans to decimate them to oblivion... I don't mean to be pessimistic, but we are doing a terrible job at preserving what we have left.

[Mr Anonymous]

09:21 PM on 09/16/2011

You'd only have to give Japan 3 months.

[HLL]

12:53 PM on 09/16/2011

I hope they don't capture this miraculous dolphin and force it to perform tricks at Sea World.

All animals should remain free and we humans need to learn to respect their space and their right to share this beautiful Earth with us ☮

“Listen to the voice of a dolphin, and you shall learn
the secret 
to mankind’s survival: PEACE!!!”
~ Mallory Watson

[Vincent Gormley]

12:57 PM on 09/16/2011

Faved. Besides, we can already watch the Teabaggers perform for free.

[Balloon Twister]

10:14 AM on 09/16/2011

i wonder what this one taste like, the other dolphins have a good strong flavor. this is nice that they discover these creatures.

[Jorgelzorro]

10:10 AM on 09/16/2011

O lord!don't tell any humans now they are going to kill them

[PATOISJAM]

12:12 PM on 09/16/2011

Or capture them for seaworld and the like

[GraphicMatt]

09:44 AM on 09/16/2011

The dolphins are evolvong. It won't be long until that Simpson's episode where the dolphions take over the world becomes a reality. : P

[anti politricks]

11:44 AM on 09/16/2011

they'd probably do a better job than we did!

[HLL]

01:15 PM on 09/16/2011

They would definitely do a better job than humans!! ♥

“To the dolphin alone,
nature has given 
that which the best philosophers seek:
Friendship for no advantage.
Though it 
has no need of help from any man,
it is a genial friend to all and 
has helped mankind.”
~ Plutarch

[DanoX]

05:12 AM on 09/16/2011

Silly dolphins just want to play all day!

[kwaut lizard]

01:35 AM on 09/16/2011

Article is inaccurate. The Australian Snubfin Dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) was fully recognized as a new species in 2005, being found distinct from populations of Irrawaddy River Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_snubfin_dolphin

[kwaut lizard]

04:59 AM on 09/16/2011

In fact, the Australian snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) is the first new dolphin species to be discovered in 56 years in 2005! It is named after George Heinsohn, an Australian biologist who worked at James Cook University in the 1960s and 1970s, who was correct in his hypothesis that the Townsville population was a new species.

[Pixiesnix]

12:54 AM on 09/16/2011

I find it amazing and awesome that after all the exploration the human species has done, there are still new creatures to discover, especially in the oceans.

[GraphicMatt]

09:45 AM on 09/16/2011

I agree. They make discoveries all the time deep in the ocean trenches and some of them are just incredible creatures.

[Trekkiefandom]

08:13 PM on 09/15/2011

Don't tell the Japanese, they will hunt and kill them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KRD8e20fBo

[cupcake77]

06:04 PM on 09/15/2011

Totally, awesomely cool.

[blessyourlittleheart]

05:57 PM on 09/15/2011

I'd like to put a couple of the ones we already knew about in the freezer for winter. I bet the Japanese folks are onto something eating dolphins.

[Marci Economidis]

05:07 PM on 09/15/2011

Oh, thank you H.P. Beautiful.

[Melissa a7xfoREVer]

04:08 PM on 09/15/2011

thts pretty cool

[Media Saint]

04:31 PM on 09/15/2011

You need a first fan...

[cambo]

05:07 PM on 09/15/2011

I second that motion.#