Striped Dolphin

Striped Dolphin Latest News

A pod of striped dolphins, uncommon in Andhra waters, was recently spotted off the coast of Visakhapatnam.

About Striped Dolphin

• The striped dolphin is a streamlined oceanic dolphin, similar in shape and size to the common dolphin.
• Scientific Name: Stenella coeruleoalba
• They are among the most abundant and widespread dolphins in the world. 

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Striped Dolphin Distribution

• It is found in temperate and tropical waters of all the world’s oceans. 
• Their range includes waters off Greenland, northern Europe (United Kingdom, Denmark), the Mediterranean Sea, Japan, Argentina, South Africa, western Australia, and New Zealand.

Striped Dolphin Habitat

• They tend to prefer deeper, more offshore waters and can be found in oceanic waters over the continental shelves.
• They are attracted to upwelling areas, where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises toward the surface, and convergence zones, where ocean currents meet.

Striped Dolphin Features

• The striped dolphin reaches 2.5-2.6 m (averaging around 2.2-2.3 m) in length, the males being slightly larger.
• They a long, defined rostrum and round forehead (known as a melon). 
• Their dorsal fin is hooked, tall, and located mid-back.
• As the name suggests, the most recognisable features are the ‘stripes’. A dark grey stripe runs from the beak, above the eye, across the flank, and then down to the underside of the body. A second stripe runs below the eye to the pectoral flipper.
• Above these stripes, the dolphin’s flanks are coloured light blue or grey. All appendages are black, as well. The underside is blue, white, or pink. 
• They are usually found in tight, cohesive groups of about 25 to 100 individuals and have been observed breaching, jumping, and leaping over 20 feet above the surface of the water. 
• They display a unique behavior called roto-tailing, when the animal leaps high out of the water and vigorously rotates its tail while airborne.
• The estimated lifespan of striped dolphins is up to 58 years. 

Striped Dolphin Conservation Status

It is classified as ‘Least Concern’ under the IUCN Red List.

Source: NIE