Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
Description: This dolphin is well-shaped,
with no remarkable features, and a prominant beak. Its dorsal
fin is tall and curved, with a dark blue-grey cape. The
flanks are a lighter grey, leading to pink-white undersides
and black flippers. There are a number of dark stripes,
one running from the eye to the anus (between the grey and
white areas), and others running from the eye backwards
onto the white ventral surface. The grey on the flanks forks
upward and away, curving onto the dorsal cape just before
the fin. Adults measure between 1.8 and 2.5m, and weigh
from 90-150kg.
Habitat: The Striped Dolphin occupies both offshore and
inshore waters.
Food & Feeding: This species takes midwater fish and
squid, with laternfish making up at least one-third of the
catch.
Behaviour: Groups range from a few animals to a few thousand.
Within each group are three segregations: non-mating adults,
mating adults and juveniles. Striped Dolphins are an active
species, regularly bowriding and leaping from the water.
They vocalise with whistles and clicks.