Atlantic spotted dolphin©M.Dewynter/CARIMAM

Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis)©V.Rufray/Biotope

- TAXONOMY
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetartiodactyla
Infraorder : Cetacea
Parvorder : Odontoceti
Family : Delphinidae
Common names :
English : Atlantic spotted dolphin
Spanish : Delfín manchado del Atlántico
French : Dauphin tacheté de l’Atlantique

- MORPHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
Morphology : body and beak relatively robust and fairly rounded head compared to other Stenella species. Falcate dorsal fin with broad base.
Color and patterns : dark gray dorsally fading to white on belly. White-tipped lips and beak tip. Light grey flame going up on the dark side to the fin. Variable spotting develops with age and can be used to identify individuals.
Body length : 1.7-2.3 m
Confusion with other species : The main features that differentiate it from other Stenella are the more robust body shape, the lateral flame and the white lips. Unspotted individuals can also be mistaken for the coastal form of the bottlenose dolphin, although the latter is larger.
Group size : usually several dozen to few hundred individuals.
Specific behavior : they often get close to vessels and bow ride. They typically dive to few dozen meters for several minutes.
Feeding : they eat a wide variety of fish and cephalopods, depending on the environment.

- DISTRIBUTION
Global distribution : its global distribution is limited to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic ocean, from 33° south to 45° north.
Sightings in the Wider Caribbean region : The species is common in the whole Wider Caribbean region, but it is mainly observed on the continental shelves and slopes and around the islands, up to bathymetric lines of a few hundred meters.

- CONSERVATION
Threats recorded in the Wider Caribbean region : bycatch in active and ghost fishing nets, and whaling.
IUCN status : LC (Least Concern)
SPAW status : classified in annex II of the Spaw Protocol since 1991.
 

Sources  :
International Whaling Commission
IUCN (2021) The IUCN redlist of threatened species.
IUCN and Zoological Society of London (2012) National Red Lists
Jefferson T.A., Webber M.A., Pitman R.L. (2015) Marine mammals of the world : a comprehensive guide to their identification. Academic Press.
Kaschner, K., Reeves, R. (2011) LifeWeb species distribution factsheets.
NOOA (2021) Species fact sheets - Marine mammals.
Ocean Science & Logistic (2020) Guide des cétacés de Guyane française. OSL, canopée des Science, Cayenne, Guyane française.
Savouré-Soubelet A., Aulagnier S., Haffner P., et al. (coord.) (2016) Atlas des mammifères sauvages de France volume 1 : Mammifères marins. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris ; IRD, Marseille.
Society for marine mammalogy-Species fact sheets
SPAW-RAC. (2020). Implementation of the Action Plan for Marine Mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region : A Scientific and Technical Analysis. Authored by Vail, C. and Borobia, M. UNEP, SPAW-RAC.
Ward, N., Bogomolni, A., Potter, C. (2013) A stranding guide to marine mammals of the Wider Caribbean region : An introduction field for stranding responders. Gecko Production Inc. ISBN : 978-1-891694-00-4.