Atlantic White Sided Dolphin

Scientific name 

Lagenorhynchus acutus (acutus = sharp, for its sharply pointed dorsal fin)

Look at my bright band...

Atlantic White Sided Dolphins are found in the cold waters like Unites Kingdom waters, north of Atlantic Ocean.

They can live for around 20 to 30 years.

They can be confused with the White beaked Dolphin but Atlantic White Sided Dolphins have a distinctive yellow band on either side.

Physical Description

Atlantic White Sided Dolphins have a small head and a short beak. The dorsal surface is black and the ventral white. There is a grey stripe along length of body. The flippers and flukes are dark. Along the side below the dorsal fin is a white stripe.

They can be up to 3 metres (the length of a Mini Car) but the females are smaller than males. They can weigh 165 to 200 kg which is as heavy as 7 sheep. They have between 29 and 40 teeth.

Feeding

Atlantic White Sided Dolphins eat fish such as herring, small mackerel and hake. They can be hunted by Killer Whales (Orcas) and sharks.

Behaviour

Atlantic White Sided Dolphins travel in groups called pods of 10 to 60 individuals. They are social animals; they are often in company of Fin Whales and Humpback Whales. They are fast swimmers and like to leap and jump out of the water!

Threats

Atlantic White Sided Dolphins are threatened by hunting, pollution and can be caught in fishing nets.

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