Striped Dolphin:
A pod of striped dolphins was recently spotted off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
- The striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) is a streamlined oceanic dolphin, similar in shape and size to the common dolphin.
- It is among the most abundant and widespread dolphins in the world.
- It is found in temperate and tropical waters of all the world’s oceans.
- They tend to prefer deeper, more offshore waters and can be found in oceanic waters over the continental shelves.
- The striped dolphin reaches 2.5-2.6 m (averaging around 2.2-2.3 m) in length, the males being slightly larger.
- They have a long, defined rostrum and round forehead (known as a melon).
- 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.
- They are usually found in tight, cohesive groups of about 25 to 100 individuals.
- They display a unique behavior called roto-tailing, when the animal leaps high out of the water and vigorously rotates its tail while airborne.
- Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Least Concern
