Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus acutus


FIELD MARKS:
dolphinlike
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to 9 feet
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long white patch on sides
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dark beak usually
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gregarious
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acrobatic
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compare with White Beaked Dolphin

Note

The fainter color patterns along its sides are variable between individuals.

Description

Maximum length 2.7m (9 feet). Robust body with a small beak. Dorsal fin is tall, highly falcate and pointed at its tip. Tail end of body does not taper until just before meeting the flukes. Curved flippers. The beak is black, small, but distinct. The dorsal fin is gray or black, the belly is white, and the sides have zones of gray, tan, and white. It has a distinct white oval patch along its side, from just beneath the dorsal fin rearward o an area just above the anus.

Habitat

Primarily offshore in the cool waters.

Range

Between the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current to as far south as Hudson Canyon, N. Virginia.

Similar Species

Most likely to be confused with the White Beaked Dolphin. They look much alike, except for the oval patch along the sides of the White-sided Dolphin and its black beak.

Comments

They are very visable at sea and are sometimes found in herds of a thousand, but smaller herds are more common. Wary of ships and will not bow ride. Often associated with the Atlantic Pilot Whale.

They are also known as Atlantic White-sided Porpoises and Jumpers. This species feeds on squids and fishes.



Copyright 1999-2003 - All Rights Reserved, By Norma Ranieri (EMail:Dolphintailz@oocities.com)



Credits

Much of the information found here has been adapted from the following sources:

"The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales & Dolphins", Copyright Chanticleer Press, Inc. 1983. All rights reserved.

"The Whale-Watchers Handbook: A Field Guide to the Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of North America", by David K. Bulloch, Copyright 1993, All rights reserved.

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