Scientist have given the name, Australian Humpback Dolphin, to a species of humpback dolphin that becomes the fourth recognized humpback dolphin species chronologically.  

Australian Humpback Dolphins are cetaceans that can be found off the coast of West Africa and the northern coast of Australia.

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It has the scientific name Sousa Sahulensis. The name is derived from the Sahul Shelf, an underwater shelf that stretch from northern Australia to southern New Guinea, where the new humpback dolphins can be found.

Scientists of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Clymene Enterprises described the species as a taxonomically confused group of marine mammals.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the scientists who studied the dolphins, said scientists have finally managed to settle many long-standing questions about the humpback dolphin. One of these questions is the actual numbers of the dolphins.

Howard Rosenbaum, another scientist who studied the dolphins, said the formal recognition and naming of a new species brings with it a need to formulate plans for dolphin protection.

He explained that these dolphins were threatened by fishing, vessel impacts and coastal development.

Rosenbaum stressed that the protection on the habitats of humpback dolphins and other coastal dolphins are essential for the survival of these species.

Researchers said these new species will join the roster of other humpback dolphins that can be found in the Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean.

The Australian humpback dolphin differs from other humpback dolphins in that the former have lower and wider dorsal fins than the Atlantic and Indian humpback dolphins.

They are also dark gray in color opposed to the white with a hint of pink color of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin.

This new breed of dolphin also has a distinctive dark dorsal cape, researchers added.

Researchers have still haven't come to an estimate about the number of humpback dolphins. They believe there may be a few thousand dolphins based on the available sighting data.