SPINNER DOLPHIN FACTS

Stenella longirostris

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Spinner Dolphin

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Spinner Dolphin
It is a marine mammal that belongs to the family Delphinidae of oceanic dolphins. The species name in latin, Stenella Longirostris, means "long beak". Is the most common small cetacean in many tropical open seas.
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Anatomy
The spinner dolphin is a small cetacean. Adults are typically 7 feet in length and reach a body mass of 130-170 pounds. Their color variation depend on the region they live.

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Anatomy
They are dark grey on the back, lighter grey along the sides and white in the ventral zone. It has a dark grey stripe from the eye to the pectoral ipper.

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Habitat
They are found in o-shore tropical and subtropical waters around the world. This includes the Atlantic, Indian and Pacic oceans. It does spend time in both shallow reef areas and deeper water farther from land.

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Behavior
The Stenella longirostris is organized in pods. Groups vary in size from just a few dolphins to 1,000 individuals. They are very social with each other and with other ocean animal species.

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Behavior
The spinner dolphin leaps can often be done in a series with as many as 14 leaps in a row. A single spinning leap can include as many as four body revolutions. The Spinner Dolphins are subject to scientic investigation because of their remarkable capacity to learn.
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Feeding
Pelagic spinner dolphins feed primarily on small sh, mesopelagic on squid and shrimp. They can dive down to depths of 300 meters to catch their prey.

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Reproduction
The Spinner dolphin is polygynandrous (the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males). Mating happens within the school with no real mate selection. Females are sexuality mature at 47 years and males are sexually mature from 7 to 10 years.
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Reproduction
The spinner dolphin has a 10 months gestation period with 3 year calving intervals. The mother nurses the calf for up to two years. The average lifespan of Spinner Dolphins is 20 years.

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Threats
The major threats to spinner dolphins are habitat destruction and shing. Large numbers of spinner dolphins have also been captured in gillnets and killed by harpoons.

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Threats
The IUCN classies this species as data decient. Spinner dolphins are protected in some regions around the world, especially in USA and Pacic Islands.

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