Spinner dolphin (species: Stenella longirostris) in ALA: LIRS and surrounds using records to Oct. 2021 (Lizard Island Field Guide)
ALA: LIRS and surrounds using records to Oct. 2021 > Animalia > Vertebrata > Mammalia > Cetacea > Delphinidae > Stenella > Stenella longirostris (gallery)
Stenella longirostris
Spinner dolphin


©Lyle Vail: Spinner dolphins near Lizard Island

©Lyle Vail: Spinner dolphins near Lizard Island

©Richard Fiddis: Spinner dolphin off Lizard Island.

show or add records

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Cetacea
Family Delphinidae
Genus Stenella
Species Stenella longirostris
Status insufficient data to assess

Show in taxonomy
Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

         

Distinguishing features

Up to 2 metres long with a long, slender beak. Body dark grey above, paler on the sides, and paler still below. Beak has a dark tip and dark stripe along the upper surface.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: This is the dolphin seen most frequently around Lizard Island in small pods of tens of individuals, mostly in summer. Occasionally larger pods (100+) are seen.

Behaviour

These dolphins often spin on the longitudinal axis when jumping.

Web resources

References

  • Baker, A.N. (1983). Whales and Dolphins of New Zealand and Australia: An identification guide Victoria University Press, Wellington, NZ.