Wildlife to Witness: Spinner Dolphins

The Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) is a small dolphin found in off-shore tropical waters around the world. It is famous for its acrobatic displays in which they spin longitudinally along their axis as they leap through the air.


The Spinner Dolphin is usually dark gray, with darker patches in the tail stock, back and throat. Usually it has a creamy-white patch on the belly, though this varies considerably. Their beaks are distinctively long and thin, with a dark tip. The fins, also, are lengthy for dolphins of this size. The dorsal fin is erect and leans forward in older males found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Spinner Dolphins are the most variable in form of all cetaceans.

Adults vary in length from 129–235 centimetres (51–93 in) and weight from 23–78 kilograms (51–170 lb). Gestation requires about 10 months. Females reach maturity at four to seven years. Males require seven to ten years. Their longevity is unknown.

Group sizes vary from just a few animals up to thousands.

They often ride boats' bow-waves.

Source: Wikipedia

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