Hector's dolphins are the world's smallest and rarest dolphins.

Subspecies
The North Island Hector's dolphin has recently been reclassified as a subspecies called Maui's dolphin: Cephalorhyncus hectori maui.

Life span
Unknown.

Statistics
Body length: 1.2-1.5m, Weight: 35-60kg.

Physical description
Hector's dolphins have a silvery grey melon region, but their flippers, fins and sides of their head are light grey. They have white markings as in Heaviside's dolphins, and have a dark grey, rounded dorsal fin.

Distribution
Hector's dolphins live in the waters off New Zealand.

Diet
Hector's dolphins feed on fish and squid.

Behaviour
Hector's dolphins can occur in schools of up to 100, but generally they live in groups of 2-8.

Conservation status
Hector's dolphins are classified as Endangered by the 2000 IUCN Red List, with an estimated population of 3,000-4,000. Maui's dolphins have an estimated population of about 100 and are the rarest marine dolphins in the world. They are listed as Critically Endangered and threats include set-netting.

Notes
Hector's dolphins are often drowned in nets.