Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic Part 7

Body to at least 7 feet (2.1 m) long.

Body dark gray on back; tan on sides; white on belly.

Beak often long and slender, usually black above, white below.

Tip of snout and lips distinctly black.

Dorsal fin moderately falcate to triangular and very erect.

Rides bow waves.

Often jumps and spins on longitudinal axis.

Distribution in oceanic and coastal tropical waters.

[Sidenote: STRIPED DOLPHIN

_Stenella coeruleoalba_ = _Stenella styx_

p. 113]

Body to about 9 feet (2.7 m) long.

Body dark gray or bluish gray on back; gray on sides; gray or white on belly.

Distinctive black stripes from: 1) eye to a.n.u.s, 2) eye to flipper.

Distinctive black blaze from behind dorsal fin to side above flipper.

Rides bow waves.

Distribution temperate, subtropical, and tropical; seldom close to sh.o.r.e.

[Sidenote: SADDLEBACK DOLPHIN

_Delphinus delphis_

p. 116]

Body to 8.5 feet (2.6 m); usually less than 7.5 feet (2.3 m) long.

Body brownish gray to black; belly and chest white; crisscross (hourgla.s.s) pattern of yellow tan on sides.

Distinct black stripe from center of lower jaw to flipper.

Rides bow waves.

Distribution temperate and tropical; seldom close to sh.o.r.e.

[Sidenote: FRASER'S DOLPHIN

_Lagenoldelphis hosei_

p. 120]

Body to at least 8 feet (2.4 m) long.

Body very robust in front of dorsal fin, resembling cross between saddleback dolphin and Atlantic white-sided dolphin.

Beak very short and indistinct.

Distinct black stripe from beak to area of a.n.u.s.

Dorsal fin and flippers small.

Distribution tropical (not yet recorded in western North Atlantic).

[Sidenote: ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN

_Lagenorhynchus acutus_

p. 123]

Body to about 9 feet (2.7 m) long.

Dorsal fin part gray, part black; tall and distinctly falcate.

Distinctive patch of white on side; tan or yellow coloration below and behind dorsal fin, often visible on swimming animal.

Beak short; all dark.

Does not usually ride bow waves.

Distribution Cape Cod to southern Greenland.

[Sidenote: WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN

_Lagenorhynchus albirostris_

p. 126]

Body to about 10 feet (3.1 m) long.

Dorsal fin all black, tall, and distinctly falcate.

Two pale areas: one in front, another behind and below dorsal fin; visible on swimming animal.

Beak short, sometimes brushed with white blaze.

May ride bow waves.

Distribution Newfoundland north in summer, Cape Cod north in winter; common close to sh.o.r.e at Cape Cod in spring.

[Sidenote: ATLANTIC BOTTLENOSED DOLPHIN

_Tursiops truncatus_

p. 128]

Body to 12 feet (3.7 m) long.

Body dark gray on back; lighter gray on sides; belly white to pink.

Snout robust and short.

Dorsal fin tall; back curved.

Ride bow waves; often turn head downwards or to the sides as they do so.

Distribution temperate and tropical, usually within 20 miles of sh.o.r.e (often in bays, lagoons, and larger rivers) but extending off the continental shelves.

[Sidenote: GUIANA DOLPHIN

_Sotalia guianensis_

p. 132]

Body to approximately 5.6 feet (1.7 m) long.

Body steel blue to dark brown on back; white on belly.

Dorsal fin nearly triangular; curves only slightly backward.

Distribution in Lake Maracaibo and the rivers of Guiana and in the nearsh.o.r.e coastal waters of northeastern portion of South America.

[Sidenote: ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN