Heaviside’s Dolphins

Student Projects on Heaviside’s dolphins

Morgan Martin – PhD (2015–2019, University of Pretoria): Acoustic behaviour of Heaviside's dolphins. Supervisors: S. Elwen, Dr T. Gridley.

Priskilla (Pewah) Nghaangulwa – MSc (2022–2023, University of Namibia): Investigating spatio-temporal patterns of dolphin presence in Walvis Bay using long-term acoustic monitoring.

Monique Laubscher – MSc (2016–2018, University of Pretoria): Environmental factors affecting cetacean habitat use in the Western Cape.

Tevya Lotriet – MSc (2016–2018, University of Pretoria): Mapping cetacean distribution using citizen science in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Magali Combes – MSc (2017, University of Montpellier): Ecological drivers of habitat use in Heaviside's dolphins using passive acoustic recorders.

Pauline Glotin (deRock) – MSc coursework (2016, University of Pierre & Marie Curie): Investigating the occurrence and distribution of cetaceans in coastal and offshore Namibia in relation to oceanographic variables.

Sara Golaski – MSc (2013–2014, University of Pretoria): Population ecology of Heaviside's dolphins in Namibia. Co-supervised with Prof. M.N. Bester.

Alana Theron – Honours project (2026, Stellenbosch University): Assessing the residency and numbers of Heaviside's dolphins using a citizen science photo-ID platform (HappyWhale).

Daniella Faile – Honours project (2026, Stellenbosch University): Visual health assessment of Heaviside's dolphins across their range using photographs. Supervised by Rachel Probert and Simon Elwen.

Elzeth Dippenaar – Honours project (2025, Stellenbosch University): Updating the abundance estimates of Heaviside's dolphins in Namibia and testing online AI matching tools (HappyWhale).

Rachel Probert – Honours (2016, University of KwaZulu-Natal): Abundance of Heaviside's dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Jeffrey Slater – BTech Honours (2015, Cape Peninsula University of Technology): Acoustic characteristics and detectability of Heaviside's dolphins. Co-supervised with Dr Tess Gridley.

Publications on Heaviside’s Dolphins

Heaviside's dolphin Cephalorhynchus heavisidii. Abernethy RB & Elwen SH. (Book chapter) In: Coastal Dolphins and Porpoises, 369–394.

Towed passive acoustic monitoring complements visual survey methods for Heaviside's dolphins Cephalorhynchus heavisidii in the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area. Gridley T, Martin MJ, Swift RJ, Roux J-P, Slater J & Elwen SH. African Journal of Marine Science.

First abundance estimates of Heaviside's (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) and dusky (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) dolphins off Namibia using a novel visual and acoustic line transect survey. Martin MJ, Gridley T, Roux J-P & Elwen SH. Frontiers in Marine Science.

To buzz or burst-pulse? The functional role of Heaviside's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) rapidly pulsed signals. Martin MJ, Elwen SH, Kassanjee R & Gridley T. Animal Behaviour.

Heaviside's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) relax acoustic crypsis to increase communication range. Martin MJ, Gridley T, Elwen SH & Jensen FH. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Injury and Subsequent Healing of a Propeller Strike Injury to a Heaviside's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii). Elwen SH & Leeney RH. (2010) Aquatic Mammals.

Near-shore distribution of Heaviside's (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) and dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) at the southern limit of their range in South Africa. Elwen SH, Best PB, Thornton M & Reeb D. (2010) African Zoology.

Diurnal movements and behaviour of Heaviside's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii), with some comparative data for dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). Elwen SH, Best PB, Reeb D & Thornton M. (2009) South African Journal of Wildlife Research.

A population estimate of Heaviside's dolphins Cephalorhynchus heavisidii in the southern end of their range. Elwen SH, Reeb D, Thornton M & Best P. (2009) Marine Mammal Science.

Range and movements of a nearshore delphinid, Heaviside's dolphin Cephalorhynchus heavisidii as determined from satellite telemetry. Elwen SH, Meÿer MAM, Best PB, Kotze PGH, Thornton M & Swanson S. (2006) Journal of Mammalogy.

Patterns of sympatry in Lagenorhynchus and Cephalorhynchus dolphins in different habitats Heinrich, S., Elwen S.H. & Brager S. (2010). In: Dusky Dolphins: Master Acrobats on different shores. Eds Würsig B and Würsig, M. pg 313-331. Academic/Elsevier Press