August 1, 2008 "World's ugliest dolphin" photographed off Australian coast Play video

(NECN) - The first pictures of what has been dubbed the world's ugliest dolphin were shown on Australian television on Thursday.

The snub fin dolphin with its distinctive bulbous head was first identified three years ago off Western Australia's remote Kimberley coast.

It is the first new dolphin species to be discovered in fifty years.

Unlike some dolphins, the snub fins aren't used to humans and are easily scared away.

The snub fin dolphin is unique to Australia, and scientists don't know much about the mammals.

There are significant numbers of snub fins in the Kimberley region and the new species have also been spotted off the Northern Territory and in Queensland.