Striped Dolphin
(Stenella coeruleoalba)

Habitat
Found worldwide in temperate and tropical seas, seaward of the continental shelf

Range
In the Pacific the Striped Dolphin is found north to the Sea of Japan, Hokkaido, Washington State, and along roughly 40 degrees north latitude. The range extends south to Peru and New Zealand. Also found in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Eats
A wide variety of small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans

Feeds
Feed anywhere in the water column where there are large, dense schools of prey. Many of their fish prey have luminous organs and live in the deep scattering layer.

Moves
Striped dolphins are very active, performing aerial maneuvers such as breaching, chin slaps, bow-riding, and a unique behavior called "roto-tailing," in which they make high arcing jumps while violently and rapidly performing several rotations with the tail before reentering the water.

Behavior
Striped Dolphins travel in dense schools that average about 100 animals, but may be as big as 500 animals. Some schools contain only adults, some only juveniles, and some are composed of both adults and juvenile animals.

Like other delphinids, striped dolphins often vocalize with clicks and whistles, which presumably function in communication.

Reproduction
Calves are born from June through September after a gestation period of approximately one year. The calving interval is approximately four years.

Threats
By-catch in the pelagic drift-net fishery for tuna and swordfish; food shortages caused by commercial over harvesting and habitat degradation; increased susceptibility to disease caused by high levels of contaminants built up in body tissues.

Status
Widespread and reasonably abundant in tropical and temperate regions of the world's oceans. There are approximately 2 million in the eastern tropical Pacific.

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Marine Mammals List