Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphins are distinguished by their dynamic spotting patterns that evolve with age, showcasing a range of from virtually unspotted juveniles to heavily spotted adults. This variation in spotting is not just a unique aesthetic trait but serves as a visual indicator of the dolphin’s age and maturity, contributing to their identification and study in the wild. They thrive in the tropical to warm temperate waters of the Atlantic, preferring environments that balance between the open ocean and the shallower coastal areas, which influences their group dynamics and social structures.

Typically, these dolphins form medium to large groups, which vary significantly in size depending on their proximity to shore and the availability of food resources, indicating a flexible social structure that adapts to the changing oceanic conditions and prey availability. This adaptability is key to their survival, allowing them to exploit different ecological niches within their Atlantic habitat.

Quick facts

Length

Adults: 2,3m

Calves: 1,2m

Weight

Adults: 140 kg

Calves: 15 kg

Habits

Dive Time

2-4 mins

Dive Depth

<60m

Reproduction

<50 years

Life Span:

11-12 mths

Gestation period:

Dive sequence

@Georgina Cabayol

Behavior & Feeding

Socializing +

Atlantic Spotted Dolphins are highly social creatures, engaging in intricate vocalizations and physical interactions that facilitate strong social bonds within their groups. Their communication repertoire includes a wide range of sounds, from clicks and whistles to more complex sequences, allowing for sophisticated interaction and coordination among pod members. These behaviors are not just for communication; they also play a crucial role in maintaining social structures and hierarchies within the pod.

Resting +

While specific details on their resting behavior are not provided, like many cetaceans, Atlantic Spotted Dolphins likely have periods of lower activity where they engage in slow swimming or floating at or near the surface. This behavior allows them to rest while still maintaining some level of vigilance for predators or other threats.

Foraging & Diet +

Their diet is diverse, consisting of small to large fish and squid, indicative of their opportunistic feeding strategies. Atlantic Spotted Dolphins employ a variety of foraging techniques, including the use of echolocation to locate prey and complex hunting strategies like herding fish into tight balls or searching the seabed. This versatility in feeding ensures they can exploit a range of prey types, adapting their methods based on availability and environmental conditions.

https://wwhandbook.iwc.int/en/species/spotted-dolphin

Distribution & Movements

As the name implies, the Atlantic spotted dolphin occurs in tropical to warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean, in both hemispheres, between c. 50ºN and 33ºS. In the west, this species can be found from, at least, southern Brazil, all the way up to New England, although this distribution is discontinuous. In the east, these animals can be found from at least Gabon, up until Mauritania. They can also be found around oceanic islands, such as the Azores and the Bahamas. Present in the Gulf of Mexico, a marginal sea, but absent from the Mediterranean. The heavily spotted form is generally found within the continental shelf, whereas the lightly spotted form is less common in nearshore waters, although exceptions exist.

Occurrence of this species in the Azores is seasonal, and contingent on water temperatures. However, it is yet somewhat unclear where exactly these animals come from. They might be part of the offshore, lightly spotted, morphotype, also present in other archipelagos such as the Canary islands, or western North Atlantic oceanic waters, although this possibility is still being studied.

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

8-12 years
Males reach sexual maturity at approximately 12 years of age, while females become sexually mature earlier, between 8 and 11 years.

Gestation Period

11 to 12 months
Reflects a significant investment in each offspring, which is typical for cetaceans. This period allows for the full development of the calf in utero, ensuring it is well-prepared for life in the ocean.

Number of Calves

Every 2-3 years
Females typically give birth to a single calf every 2-3 years, a frequency that balances the demands of nursing and care with the need for population maintenance.

Suckling Period & Nursing

Up to 5 years
The calves gradually transition to solid food over time. This extended period of maternal care is essential for calf development, providing both nutrition and necessary socialization within the pod.

Lifespan

50 years or more
This longevity contributes to the species’ complex social structures and allows for the accumulation of knowledge and experience within pods.

Mating Strategy

Polygamous mating system
Both males and females may have multiple partners throughout their lives. This strategy contributes to genetic diversity within populations and reflects the complex social dynamics of dolphin communities.

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Quick facts

Length

Weight

Habits

Reproduction

Reproduction

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern <img class="graphics-design-i" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tooltip-more-info-futurismo.svg"> Common and widespread, low vulnerability.

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Dive sequence

Behavior & Feeding

Predators

Distribution & Movements

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

Gestation Period

Number of Calves

Suckling Period & Nursing

Lifespan

Mating Strategy

Species in the Azores

Sighting frequency

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Species

Departure Points

Dates

Related Scientific Articles

Fernandez, M. (2009): Differences in spatial distribution of two small delphinids in two islands of the Azores Archipelago

González, L. et al (2014): Temporal and spatial distribution of common dolphins off São Miguel

González, L. et al (2014): Assessing the distribution of Atlantic spotted dolphins off São Miguel

Sousa, A. et al (2021): Climate change vulnerability of cetaceans in Macaronesia

Sousa, B. et al (2009): Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Delphinus delphis and Stenella frontalis in São Miguel Island, Azores

Al Abbar, F. et al (2019): Observations of a leucistic Cory’s Shearwater off São Miguel Island

González, L. (2018): Spatio-temporal distribution of the order Cetacea in the Azores: relationship between biotic and abiotic variables

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern

Common and widespread, low vulnerability.