Australian researchers said Tuesday they have identified a new species of dolphin living in the coastal waters of northern Australia.

　　The Australian Snubfin Dolphin, which is related to Irrawaddy dolphins found along the coasts and major rivers of Asia and northern Australia, was formally identified as a new species thanks to genetic research carried out in California, Queensland state researchers said in a statement.

　　The dolphin's scientific name is Orcaella heinsohni to honor the work of James Cook University researcher George Heinsohn, who examined dolphin carcasses that were found stranded or caught in shark nets in the 1960s and 1970s. Those dolphins provided data that helped formally identify them as a separate species.