2. Species Description
Lack pelage, “rubbery” skin.
Born without spots, typically gain
spots as they age.
Individual variation and range the
dolphin lives in has an impact on
spotting.
Long rostrum, white coloration
around lips and tips of beaks
particularly in males.
1.8-2.3m in length, 100-140kg in
weight; females typically smaller.
Have 100-200 similar teeth
(Nishiwaki, 1966).
Symphyseal mandible, dorsally
asymmetric skulls and facial tissue.
3. Habitat Use & Activity Patterns
Little observed compared to
T. truncatus.
Use prey items as direct
teaching tools when females
are with their calves. Females
spend significantly longer
demonstrating hunting and
chasing techniques with prey
when with a calf than not.
No documentation of
“sponging” techniques to
protect rostrum (Miles &
Herzing, 2003).
Forage for crustaceans along
ocean floor, and fish.
Active at all times of day
(Dudzinski, 1996).
Do not fit definitions of
nocturnal, diurnal, or
crepuscular.
Species may be cathemeral
(metatumal) – behavior
during day has varying
intervals during both light
and dark portions.
4. Habitat & Distribution
Warm to temperate waters,
typically not far from
coasts.
Found from mid-New
England down the coast of
Brazil (Lopes et al., 2012).
Gulf of Mexico to east
coast of Africa, from
Morocco to Nambia
(Jefferson et al., 1997).
May migrate seasonally, or
be year-round residents
(Griffin & Griffin, 2004).
5. Nesting & Reproduction
Cetaceans do not ‘nest’.
No specific indication of birthing regions, nor designated home range.
Not extremely territorial, though will defend pod against predators that
stray too close.
Sexual behavior not species-exclusive.
Individuals in Bahamas have been recorded to produce hybridized
offspring by copulating with T. truncatus (Herzing & Elliser, 2013).
Reach sexual maturation as early as eight years, as late as 15 years.
Males and females probably mature at different ages.
Calving intervals every three years on average. As little as one, as many
as five.
Females who lose a calf in the first year typically conceive again in the
same year (Herzing, 1997).
Usually only one calf per birth, twins extremely rare.
Gestation 11-12 months.
6. Social Patterns, Vocalizations, and Longevity
Highly intelligent pod animals.
Multiple methods of communication, recognition, and
organization.
Mother-calf connection exclusive; different behavioral and
communication set between mother and pod, or calf and pod
(Miles & Herzing, 2003).
Echolocation in the form of short clicks, sharp squeals, and
repetitive clicks.
Playful and acrobatic.
Extreme environmental and demographic changes (ex:
hurricanes) are capable of changing social structure within a pod
(Elliser & Herzing, 2014).
Exact lifespan of species unknown. Estimated to be around 20
years or as many as 40, as seen in other species.
7. Ecological Roles
Feeding Habits Predators & Dangers
Prey upon pelagic and demersal
prey items (including, but not
limited to: crustaceans, small- to
medium-sized fish, and squid)
and are predominantly
teuthophagous but also
ichthyofagous.
Hypercarnivorous, but generally
not considered apex predators.
May eat up to 13.5kg of food in
one day.
Aggressive shark species
including great white, dusky,
tiger, bull (Melillo-Sweeting et
al., 2014).
Orcas.
Humans: harpoon fishermen
targeting the species for meat
(as food and bait), naval sonar,
accidental bycatch in gill nets,
pollution contaminating waters
and the dolphins themselves
(Leonel et al., 2012).
8. Ecological Roles (cont.)
Cannot be considered keystone predators.
There are other species (most of which are also
members of Delphinidae) which can fill the same
predatory niche as S. frontalis, or are apex predators
themselves.
Removal of S. frontalis, for this reason, would not have
a significant impact on other organisms.
Species diversity would suffer slightly.
9. Economic Importance
All species of dolphin are
hunted for their meat,
served in Japan and
Peru.
Therapy animals.
Can be trained to assist
oceanic military
operations.
Performance animals.
10. Conservation Status
Estimated 60,000-82,000 individuals in Gulf of Mexico
and Northwest Atlantic combined.
Different populations in both of these locations have
been identified and recorded for the sake of estimating
population size.
Not enough data for conservation status to be
accurately assessed.
Therefore listed as “data deficient” according to ICUN
v3.1.
Not enough data to determine population trends,
either.
12. Literature Cited
Dudzinski, K.M. 1996. Communication and Behavior in the Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis):
Relationships Between Vocal and Behavioral Activities. Office of Graduate Studies of
Texas A&M University.
Elliser, C.R., & Herzing, D.L. 2014. Social Structure of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Stenella frontalis, Following
Environmental Disturbance and Demographic Changes. Marine Mammal Science 30: 329-347.
Griffin, R.B. & Griffin, N.J. 2004. Temporal Variation in Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis)
and Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Densities on the West Florida Continental
Shelf. Aquatic Mammals 30: 380-390.
Herzing, D.L. 1997. The Life History of Free-Ranging Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis): Age
Classes, Color Phases, and Female Reproduction. Marine Mammal Science, 13: 576.
Herzing, D.L. & Elliser, C.R. 2013. Directionality of Sexual Activities During Mixed-Species Encounters Between
Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and Bottlenose Dolphins (Turisops truncatus).
International Journal of Comparative Psychology 26: 124-134.
Jefferson, T.A., Curry, B.E., Leatherwood, S., & Powell, J.A. 1997. Dolphins and Porpoises of West Africa: a
Review of Records (Cetacea: Delphinidae, Phocoenidae). Mammalia 61: 87-108.
Lopes, X.M., Santos, M.C.O., Silva, E., Bassoi, M., & Santos, R.A. 2012. Feeding Habits of the Atlantic
Spotted Dolphin, Stenella frontalis, in Southeastern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Oceanography 60:
189-198.
Melillo-Sweeting, K., Turnbull, S.D., & Guttridge, T.L. 2014. Evidence of Shark Attacks on Atlantic Spotted Dolphins
(Stenella frontalis) off Bimini, The Bahamas. Marine Mammal Science 30: 1158-1164.
Miles, J.A., & Herzing, D.L. 2003. Underwater Analysis of the Behavioral Development of Free- Ranging
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) Calves (Birth to 4 Years of Age). Aquatic
Mammals 29: 363-377.
Nishiwaki, M. 1966. A Discussion of Rarities among the Smaller Cetaceans Caught in Japanese
Waters. Pp. 192-204 in Norris, K.S. (Ed.) Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises. University of California
Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA.
