Atlantic White Sided Dolphin
Common Name:Atlantic White Sided Dolphin
Latin Name:Lagenorhynchus acutus
Other Names:Jumper, Springer, Lag, Atlantic White-sided Porpoise
Primary Classification:Odontocete (Toothed whale, dolphin or porpoise)
Sub Classification:Delphinidae
Description:
Atlantic white-sided dolphins can easily be spotted at sea with their large, robust bodies, and the distinctive white patch on their sides finishing in a yellow streak at the rear of their flanks.
There is a dark ring around the eye and a dark stripe between the corner of the mouth and flipper. The upper body is grey whilst the underbelly is much lighter. The dorsal fin, flippers, and tail fluke can be black or dark grey. The body remains thick until it reaches the tail, where it quickly narrows into the flukes.
Field ID:
Robust body; very short beak; single blowhole; body mainly black or grey; bright yellow patch on the rear flanks; light under-side (belly)
Length (metres):
When they are born Atlantic white-sided dolphins are 1 - 1.3 metres (39in - 4ft 3in) long. They grow to between 1.9 and 2.5 metres (6ft 3in - 8ft 3in) in length.
Weight:
Atlantic white-sided dolphins are born weighing 30 - 35 kg (65 - 75 lb).
Diet:Fish, crustaceans, squid
Behaviour:
Atlantic white-sided dolphins are highly social animals, and like to swim in the company of other whales, dolphins and porpoises, such as white-beaked dolphins, humpback whales, fin whales and long-finned pilot whales. They are acrobatic and fast swimmers, coming to the surface for breath every 15- 20 seconds. It is common to see them breaching and lob-tailing, though they are wary of vessels in some areas, but will swim with slower boats and bow-ride with faster ones. They are generally found in larger schools offshore (up to 1000 animals), and smaller groups of between 5 and 50 animals inshore. Individual and mass strandings are relatively common.