SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lagenodelphis hosei

DISCOVERED: Frasier, 1956

COMMON NAME: Frasier's dolphin, from the Greek lagenos for "bottle" and delphis for "dolphin"

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION:

Tropical distribution- Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Indian Oceans off South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, Eastern Australia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka
Pantropical distribution between 40 degrees N and 40 degrees S
Common in Camotes Sea and the southern end of Bohol Strait, Phillippines
Eastern tropical Pacific along the equator between 110 and 145 degrees W

DESCRIPTION:

Stocky build
Small fin
Short beak
Tiny flippers
dorsal fin (triangular)
Bluish gray on back and white on belly
Longitudinal side striping pattern
Cream band starts along eye to anus
Parallel black band
Dark appendages
Light gray stripe connects gape of mouth to anterior insertion of flipper

NATURAL HISTORY:

HABITAT:

Groups of one hundred to one thousand
Occasionally mix with spotted dolphins, false killer whales, striped dolphins, and spinner dolphins
Mainly offshore-rarely inshore, except around oceanic islands and in areas with a narrow continental shelf

FOOD & FEEDING:

Mesopelagic fishes
Squid, crustaceans and deep sea fish, octopus, and krill
Captured at night when they rise to the surface
Hunting at depths of at least 250-500m

LIFE CYCLE:

Reproductive biology unknown
Foetus size-45-95cm long; birth length usually less than 1m

BEHAVIOR:

Aggressive swimming style
Frequently in large groups
Often mix with schools of pelagic toothed whales and dolphins
Shy of boats
Active at the surface but don't seem

WORLD POPULATION:

Maximum of 136,000 in eastern tropical Pacific

HUMAN INFLUENCES:

Local harpoon fisheries
Gillnet fisheries
Tuna purse-seine fisheries
Drive fishery in Taiwan