Atlantic Spotted Dolphin [Stenella frontalis]
Description
The Atlantic Spotted Dolphin is a medium-sized dolphin found in warm and tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. These marine mammals are known for their distinctive spot patterns, which increase as they age. Older dolphins are often heavily spotted. They are known for their acrobatic behavior, often riding the bow waves produced by boats. They are highly social animals, often found in pods of 5 to 15, though super pods of several hundred have been reported. Their diet consists mainly of small fish and squid.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Mammals
Mammalia
|
| Order |
Cetaceans
Cetacea
|
| Family |
Oceanic dolphins
Delphinidae
|
| Genus |
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin
Stenella
|