Spinner dolphin

Stenella longirostris · The spinner dolphin is a small dolphin that lives in off-shore tropical waters around the world and is famous for leaping and spinning in the air.

Also called Long-snouted dolphin, Long-beaked Dolphin, Pantropical Spinner Dolphin, Spinning Dolphin, Long-snouted spinner dolphin.

Spinner dolphin
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
Spinner dolphin
Photo: Alexander Vasenin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Spinner dolphin
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderArtiodactyla
FamilyDelphinidae
GenusStenella
SpeciesStenella longirostris

Where it lives

Tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans, between about 40°N and 40°S, often near islands and coasts.

Fun facts

  • A spinner dolphin can make two to seven spins in a single leap.
  • Off Oahu, Hawaii, spinner dolphins hunt at night by herding prey into dense patches, swimming in a circle around them while a pair swims through to catch food.
  • Spinner dolphins rest in a tight formation, moving slowly back and forth without quite touching, and they rely on vision rather than echolocation while resting.
  • Spinner dolphins can dive 200–300 metres to feed on small fish, squid and shrimp.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).