SCIENTIFIC NAME: Stenella frontalis (Atlantic Spotted Dolphin) -- From the Greek Slenos (narrow), referring to long, narrow beak.

COMMON NAME: Spotted Dolphin

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION:

Stenella Frontalis (Atlantic Spotted Dolphin) Widely disributed in tropical and warm temperate waters circumglobally.
Found in the South Atlantic to North Atlantic

from 40° N to 40° S
Indian Ocean - Schools as far South as 35° S
Eastern Pacific from 25° N to 15° S near coast of Central and South America

EXTERNAL ANATOMY:

Spotted body usually decreases with distance from continental shores of North America
Spots increase with age within population
Robust head and body
Long, slim beak
Dark gray, purplish dorsal cape, extending from the top of the head to about halfway down the side of the animal, behind the flipper and sweeping up to the end behind the dorsal fin
Ventral surface is light gray
Tall, falcate fin
White-tipped beak
Size: 2.2 meters (both sexes)

NATURAL HISTORY:

HABITAT:

Stenella Frontalis (Atlantic Spotted Dolphin) Offshore and inshore; warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters in both the North and South Atlantic.
Offshore forms occur mainly in tropical waters north of the equator and in seasonal tropical waters south of the Galapagos Islands

FOOD & FEEDING:

Varies with location
At or near surface
Includes squid or octopus, frigate makeral, flying fish, small eels, herring and other invertebrates

LIFE CYCLE:

May live as long as 45 years
Calving dates in May and September
Gestation period is between 11 and 12 months
Males are sexually mature at 12 years and 1.49 m long and females at 9 years at 1.82 m long
Evidence of mating year round

BEHAVIOR

Frequently school with other species such as spinner dolphins
Groups may range in size from a few to several thousand in offshore regions
Segregation by age, sex, and reproductive status has been observed
Active at surface- hurl and jump into the air, forward flips, pitch poling tail lobbing and bow riding
Vigorous swimmers

SPOTTED DOLPHIN SONGS: The following .au file is a sample the song of the Spotted Dolphin.

Clicks [26k .au file]

WORLD POPULATION

No abundance estimates, but known to be common in the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

HUMAN INFLUENCES

Victims of controversial tuna industry
Primary target for purse seiners searching for yellow fin tans in the Eastern Pacific
Thousands killed every year for the last 30 years
Population is 1/2 the initial level
Soloman Islands and Japanese fisheries have taken many
Hunting and entanglement in fishing nets