Stenella longirostris

SUBFAMILY

Delphininae

TAXONOMY

Stenella longirostris (Gray, 1828), type locality unknown.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Long-snouted dolphin; French: Dauphin à ventre rose; Spanish: Delfín tornillon.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length 7.7 ft (2.3 m); weight 170 lb (78 kg). Geographic variability. Some forms are nearly uniformly gray, while others are strikingly marked with black backs, gray sides, and white bellies, with black flippers, beaks, and a connecting stripe.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in tropical to warm temperate waters worldwide.

HABITAT

Live in pelagic habitats, in open ocean regions as well as near oceanic island shorelines. They feed over escarpments, and rest in nearby shallow bays and inside atolls where these are available to them.

BEHAVIOR

Spinner dolphins were named after their characteristic behavior of leaping from the water and spinning one or more times around their longitudinal axis before returning to the water. They swim in large groups of fluid composition. Near oceanic islands they are known to occupy long-term home ranges.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Includes small fish and invertebrates associated with the deep scattering layer. They feed at night when this layer moves up to within 600 ft (200 m) of the surface.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Give birth to a single calf after a 10.5-month gestation period. Calves are produced about every three years on average. Thought to be polygynous.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Spinner dolphins are listed as Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent. Some populations were reduced almost by half by tuna seine net fisheries during the 1950s to early 1990s. Today, some spinner dolphins are killed in nets in the tropics for bait, meat, or incidentally, and exposure to harassment from dolphin watching is of concern in other areas.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Used by tuna fishermen to indicate the presence of tuna below. They also form the basis for a dolphin-watching industry in several locations.

Common name / Scientific name/Other common names	Physical characteristics	Habitat and behavior	Distribution	Diet	Conservation status
Commerson's dolphin Cephalorhynchus commersonii German: Commerson-Delfin; Spanish: Marsopa de anteojos	Coloration is black and white. Black color extends from head to behind blowhole, down the side (including the flippers, dorsal fin, and tailstock). Rest of the body is pure white. Head and body length 25.2–57.7 in (64–146.5 cm), weight 57.3–189.6 lb (26–86 kg).	Coastal regions near the mouths of bays and estuaries, or over the wide shallow continental shelf, where the tidal range is great. Birthing season is between early spring and late summer, from October to March. Groups are made up of one to three individuals.	Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.	Consists of mysid shrimp, three species of fish, squid, algae, isopods, and other benthic invertebrates.	Not threatened
Black dolphin Cephalorhynchus eutropia English: Chilean dolphin; German: Weiβbauchdelfin; Spanish: Delfín chileno	Coloration is black, except for white coloration of belly, chin, sides, and anterior of the back. No beak, a number of teeth. Females slightly larger than males. Head and body length 31.5–43.3 in (80–110 cm), weight 57.3–163.1 lb (26–74 kg).	Areas of strong tidal flow above a steeply dropping continental shelf. Mate in the early winter and bear their young in the spring. Females have one calf every two years Very shy species, groups of 8 to 14 individuals.	Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile and as far south as Tierra del Fuego.	Feed on sea bottom, mainly on fish, squid, and crustaceans.	Not threatened
Short-beaked saddleback dolphin Delphinus delphis English: Common dolphin; German: Gemeiner Delfin; Spanish: Delfín común	Coloration of back is black or dark brown, underside is white or cream colored. Dark streak runs from the lower jaw to the flipper. Eyes are encircled with black markings, beak is black. Crisscross pattern runs across the side. Head and body length 60–96 in (152.4–243.8 cm), weight 220.4–300 lb (100–136 kg).	Offshore and occasionally inshore. Groups consist of 10–500, largest groups in eastern tropical Pacific. May often be found in large, active schools.	Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean; abundant in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in the Black Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Red Sea.	Fish and squid or octopus.	Not threatened
Pygmy killer whale Feresa attenuata German: Zwerggrindwal	Coloration is dark gray to black with paler underside, some white on belly. Rounded head, no beak, white lips, white patch on tip of lower jaw. Large and conical teeth. Sub-triangular, high dorsal fin that points backwards. Head and body length 82.7–102.4 in (210–260 cm), weight 242.5–374.8 lb (110–170 kg).	Tropical waters, though it has been spotted in cooler waters off the west coast of southern Africa and Peru. Prefers subtropical and tropical waters usually in deep water in the open oceans and is rarely found in closed water. Believed to be non-migratory. Aggressive and extremely acrobatic. Calves are born during summer months.	Around Japan and Hawaii and in the warmer eastern areas of the North Pacific Ocean. Also in the west Indian Ocean, around tropical western Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, and in the Gulf of Mexico.	Mainly squid, octopus, and large fish, e.g., tuna and dolphinfish.	Data Deficient
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus French: Globicéphale tropical; German: Indischer Grindwal; Spanish: Calderón negro	Coloration is very dark brown, or gray-black. Light gray or white patch in the shape of an anchor on the throat and chest. Streak behind eye and behind dorsal. Bulbous forehead, small mouth, pointed flippers, rounded dorsal fin. Head and body length: male 23.6 ft (7.2 m), female 16.7 ft (5.1 m); maximum body weight: male 4.35 tons (3.95 tonnes), female 1.5 tons (1.4 tonnes).	Tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters where the surface has a temperature of 46.4–77°F (8–25°C). Will enter coastal and shallow waters in search of food. Families consist of up to 40 individuals and may even reach 100 individuals. Extremely social, not acrobatic, vocalize with clicks and whistles.	All tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate oceans.	Mainly squid and octopus, otherwise fish.	Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent
Long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas German: Gewöhnlicher Grindwal	Coloration is black, white belly, spherical head, long tapering trunk. Dorsal fin has a long base. Tail is long and high, flipper is one-fifth of the body. Average head and body length: male 19.7–26 ft (6–8 m), female 16.4–19.7 ft (5–6 m).	Cooler waters. There are two population, northern and southern, which do not meet, mix, and interbreed because they are separated by a wide band of warm tropical water. Travels in small groups of 4 to 6 individuals. Occasionally seen in herds of 50 or more and, on some occasions, they will gather by the hundreds. Inborn fear of killer whale.	Nearctic area of Atlantic Ocean.	Mainly squid and cod, but also a variety of other fish.	Not threatened

Common name / Scientific name/Other common names	Physical characteristics	Habitat and behavior	Distribution	Diet	Conservation status
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus French: Dauphin de Risso, grampus; German: Rundkopfdelfin; Spanish: Delfín de Risso, fabo calderón	Coloration may vary from blue-gray, gray-brown, to almost white. Large, blunt head, no beak, males may have scars. Mouth slants upwards, dorsal fin is tall and curved, tail stock is thick. Head and body length 9.2–12.6 ft (2.8–3.85 m), weight up to 1,100 lb (500 kg).	Warm temperate and tropical offshore waters and are seen close to shore only when the continental shelf is narrow. Groups consist of 3 to 50 individuals. Occasional aggregations of up to 4,000 are also seen, and they often mix with other dolphin species. Make a variety of sounds, including signature whistle. Mass and individual strandings not uncommon.	Deep tropical and warm temperate waters in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.	Mainly squid and octopus, but also other varieties of fish.	Data Deficient
Fraser's dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei French: Dauphin de Fraser; German: Borneo-Delfin, Fraser-Delfin; Spanish: Delfín de Borneo	Robust, small, and pointed flippers and dorsal fin. Coloration is dark blue-gray or gray-brown. Short beak, dark upper jaw. Chin, throat, and belly are white. Gray line runs from melon to flanks. Head and body length 6.6–8.7 ft (2–2.65 m), weight around 440 lb (200 kg).	Only in tropical and sub-tropical waters. Breeding appears to be year-round with a possible peak in the summer months. Group sizes consist of 100–2,500 individuals.	Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean.	Primarily eat fish, but they also feed on squid, cuttlefish, and shrimp.	Data Deficient
Atlantic white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus German: Weiβseitendelfin	Back is black or dark purple to gray, ventral side is yellow to tan. A blaze runs from each side to the tail stock. Pale gray stripe also runs along the length of the body. Belly is pale, yellowish. Dark stripe runs from the corner of the jaw to the insertion point of flippers. Large, dark eye patches. Head and body length 95.7–8.4 in (243–250 cm), weight 401.2–515.9 lb (182–234 kg).	Cool waters, average 44.6–53.6°F (7–12°C), of the North Atlantic Ocean. Calving season is in summer. Uses clicks and whistles to communicate Fast swimmer, feeds in small groups.	North Atlantic Ocean.	Mainly small schooling fish and squid, but also herring, smelt, silver hake, and shrimp.	Not listed by IUCN
Atlantic humpback dolphin Sousa teuszii French: Dauphin à bosse de l'atlantique; German: Kamerunfluss-Delfin; Spanish: Bufeo africano, delfín blanco africano	Younger individuals are cream colored, graying as they age. Unusual dorsal fin that is curved and humped. Second, smaller hump exists on dorsal side. Head and body length 47.2–98.4 in (120–250 cm), average weight 165.3–330.7 lb (75–150 kg).	Tropical waters close to the West African shoreline. They are not thought to venture more than 0.6–1.2 mi (1–2 km) away from the shore in an effort to avoid killer whales. Solitary, often travel and feed alone. Groups may range from 2 to 10 individuals. One offspring is born at a time.	Atlantic Ocean waters off the coast of western Africa, from Mauritania south to Angola.	Fish such as sardines and mullet.	Data Deficient
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba French: Dauphin bleu et blanc, dauphin rayé German: Blau-Weiβer Delfin; Spanish: Delfín blanco y azul	Fusiform body, tall dorsal fins, long and narrow flippers, prominent beak, distinctive color, and stripe pattern on body. Coloration is bluish gray with dark dorsal cape and light ventral coloration. Head and body length 86.6–92.9 in (220–236 cm), weight up to 198.4–330.7 lb (90–150 kg).	Offshore and inshore warm temperate and tropical waters. Mating season is in winter and early summer. Group size ranges from a few to over 1,000 individuals. Three different kinds of schools often occur: juvenile, breeding adults, and nonbreeding adults.	Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean in warm temperate and tropical seas throughout the world.	Mainly cephalopods, crustaceans, and bony fishes.	Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent