Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 141, September 2016, pp. 1-19. | Page 13

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Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa examining the Whale Bone Remains
at the Diving Village, Heritage Village, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 19.03.2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/16764741078/
The smallest of the dolphins is the Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides),
distinguished by the lack of a dorsal fin. Local fishermen call it "fa'ima". Until the
1990's it was known from the remains of only one specimen washed up in the
early 1990's on the shores of Abu Dhabi, but in later years others have washed up
in the northern emirates as well. Instead of a dorsal fin, it has a row of small
tubercles on its back and it is said that this helps to provide a baby dolphin with
a grip when it rides on its mother's back. This is the only dolphin to exhibit this
kind of behaviour. As described above, this dolphin likes to come close inshore
to hunt in the mangrove lined shallow sea-water channels of the offshore islands
(Jongbloed, 2004).
All of the whales and many of the dolphins are endangered animals. Threats to
their existence include fishing with nets (especially dangerous for those species
that prefer to live in shallow, onshore waters), pollution from oil, PCB's and
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 141 – September 2016