Fraser’s dolphin ©M.Dewynter/CARIMAM

Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)

- TAXONOMY
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetacea
Suborder : Odontoceti
Family : Delphinidae
Common names :
English : Fraser’s dolphin
Spanish : Delfín de Fraser, Borneo
French : Dauphin de Fraser

- MORPHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
Morphology : relatively robust body, compared to other small delphinids. Short and stocky beak. Small triangular to falcate dorsal fin.
Color and patterns : tricolored body with a gray dorsal cape descending on the lighter flanks, and a beige to pinkish white belly. Most adults have a broad dark stripe from eye to anus area.
Body length : 2.1-2.7 m
Confusion with other species : At a distance, the species may be confused with some species of the genus Stenella, but the much shorter rostrum of the Fraser allows in general to differentiate it easily.
Group size : usually several dozen to few hundred individuals.
Specific behavior : approach vessels often. Aggressive and splashy swimmers creating a distinctive spray of water. Usually found in tight groups and regularly associates with other species, such as pantropical spotted dolphins, rough toothed dolphins and melon-headed whales.
Feeding : feeds on mesopelagic fish, cephalopods and shrimps, usually at night, between the surface and 600 m depth.

- DISTRIBUTION
Global distribution : they occur in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans, but some sightings have also been reported in warm temperate waters.
Sightings in the Wider Caribbean region : The species is found in the whole Wider Caribbean region. However, it is mainly observed between the 500- and 3 000-meter depth isobaths, on the slopes of the continental shelves of the Gulf of Mexico and South America, and over the insular slopes of the Caribbean Island arc.

- CONSERVATION
Threats recorded in the Wider Caribbean region : bycatch in active and ghost fishing nets, and whaling.
Global 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.