Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 141, September 2016, pp. 1-19. | Page 2

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On Thursday 19.03.2015 I visited the Diving Village at the Heritage Village,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Whale Bone remains (A jaw, a vertebrae and a
whale bone piece) were seen. They were examined, studied and photographed.

Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa examining a Whale Vertebrae Bone at
the Diving Village, Heritage Village, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 19.03.2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/16740898788/
It is well known to UAE residents that the seas surrounding the country are full
of life, with a great variety of fish landing on our dinner tables every day.
It is, however, less well known that both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman
are home to several dozen of species of marine mammals, like the seacow or
dugong, and many species of whales and dolphins.
One third of the 81 species of whales and dolphins, collectively called cetaceans,
are thought to occur off the shores of the United Arab Emirates. They are divided
into "mysticetes" - the baleen whales - and "odontocetes" or toothed whales and
dolphins (Jongbloed, 2004).
Dolphins or porpoises are more commonly known as they occur in larger
numbers and are often curious and playful, allowing close-up observations
(Jongbloed, 2004).
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 141 – September 2016