This site is indebted to the writings of Lyall Watson (amongst others), for his amazing and well-researched book Whales of the World, illustrated by Tom Ritchie.

BENGUELA DOLPHIN (HEAVISIDE'S) Cephalorhynchus heavisidii

There have never been any satisfactory names for this species which can only be classified as rare. We suggest that it be known, after the coldwater current in which it is found, as the Benguela Dolphin.

Description Small; length averages 1.2 m (4 ft), with a maximum of about 1.4 m (4.5 ft). Weight averages 40 kg (88 lb), with a possible maximum of 55 kg (120 lb).
This is a very small, compact little dolphin with the typical broad flat head of its genus. There is no distinct beak, just a large, wide mouth set in a shortened head, with a lower jaw extending slightly beyond the upper one.

The flippers are oval-shaped, smaller and narrower than those of the Piebald Dolphin; the dorsal fin is broad-based and triangular.

The colour and pattern are very much like those of the Chilean Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia), black above and white below; but the white belly in this species extends upwards in 3 major lobes which invade the dark area of the flank. The first of these lies in front of the flippers and the second immediately behind them; the third is longer and more slender, reaching obliquely backwards up on to the tailstock. When seen from beneath, the white underside forms a continuous pattern shaped in the front like a rounded cross of Lorraine, and behind like a blunt trident A beached specimen is easy to identify. There is nothing else in Southern African waters like it. There are 25-30 slender, pointed teeth on each side of both jaws.

Benguela Dolphins feed on squid and bottom-dwelling fish. Recordings were made of the animals captured in 1969 and it was found that they produced lowlevel pulsed sounds around 8 kHz. These were largely short bursts of clicks, sometimes running together fast enough to produce a tonal cry.

From the few records it is assumed to be confined to the cold inshore waters of the Benguela current on the west coast of southern Africa, from the Cape Peninsula northwards to about Cape Cross in Namibia.