Two north Queensland researchers have identified a new species of dolphin in Australian waters. The australian snubfin dolphin lives in shallow coastal waters in northern Australia and possibly Papua New Guinea.It initially was thought to have been an irrawady dolphin, usually found in Asia and Australia.But researcher Isabel Beasley, a PhD student from Townsville's James Cook University, says DNA samples and skull measurements have proved otherwise."The australian snubfin has three colours, whereas the Asian dolphin has just uniform slate grey colour with a white belly," she said."The other differences are in the dorsal fin height and flipper shapes. Also within the skulls, there's a lot of differences in the skulls."It is the first discovery of a new dolphin species in more than 50 years.Ms Beasley says the snubfin has a smaller fin compared with most other species.The species is often confused with a dugong."The way that its forehead is shaped, it's very rounded and many people do confuse the two," Ms Beasley said. "But it is that small little dorsal fin on the back of its body [is] how you can distinguish it."She says it is a very shy dolphin, tending to keep away from boats, unlike more showy bottlenose and other species of dolphin.Ms Beasley has been studying the Asian irrawaddy dolphin since 1996.That species is in trouble: Khmer Rouge guerillas hunted irrawaddy in the Mekong River in the early 1970s and they are still considered a delicacy in that area.
View: Full Article | Source: abc.net.au
As much as some people laugh at the Idea of of Big Foot , I still concede the possibility of their existence. There are places in north western America and Canada that Man has not intruded on YET! A reasonably intelligent Sub- Species of Human could very well be rooming these areas, avoiding us like any smart animal would. 
That dolphin is going to soon wish it had remained undiscovered.