Pantropical spotted dolphin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pantropical spotted dolphin |
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| Dolphin skipping on its tail over the water | |
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Stenella
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attenuata
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| Pantropical spotted dolphin range | |
The pantropical spotted dolphin is a type of dolphin that lives in warm and mild oceans all around the world. These dolphins were once in danger because millions were accidentally caught and killed in large nets used to catch tuna.
However, in the 1980s, new ways of catching tuna that were safer for dolphins helped save many of them. Today, the pantropical spotted dolphin is one of the most common dolphin species in the world.
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About the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
This dolphin was first described by a scientist named John Gray in 1846. The name "pantropical" means "found in all tropical regions." The scientific names for this dolphin come from Latin words that mean "thin" or "thinning."
Scientists recognize different groups, or "subspecies," of these dolphins. These groups often live in different areas. For example, some live far out in the ocean, while others live closer to the coast.
What They Look Like
Pantropical spotted dolphins can look quite different depending on where they live. Dolphins living near the coast are usually larger and have more spots. Those living far out in the open ocean are often smaller.
Adult dolphins have many spots, which is how they get their name. However, young dolphins usually don't have spots and can sometimes be mistaken for bottlenose dolphins. Some dolphins in places like the Gulf of Mexico might not have many spots even when they are grown up.
These dolphins have a long, thin snout. Their upper and lower jaws are dark, but they have thin, white "lips." Their chin, throat, and belly are white or light grey with only a few spots. Their sides have three different color bands: a light one at the bottom, a thin grey strip in the middle, and a dark grey back. Their tall, curved dorsal fin is also dark grey.
How They Behave
Pantropical spotted dolphins are very active and love to jump high out of the water, making big splashes. They often leap completely out of the sea for a second or more. They also enjoy swimming near boats and riding the waves created by the boat's front, which is called bow-riding.
In the eastern Pacific Ocean, these dolphins are often seen swimming with yellowfin tuna. This is why they were often caught in tuna fishing nets. Even though they swim together, they don't eat tuna. Instead, both dolphins and tuna eat similar small fish that live near the ocean surface. In other areas, these dolphins might also eat squid and small crustaceans.
Life Cycle and Growth
When a pantropical spotted dolphin is born, it is about 80 to 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) long. Adult dolphins can grow to be about 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) long and weigh around 120 kilograms (about 265 pounds).
Female dolphins can have babies when they are about 10 years old. Males are ready to mate when they are about 12 years old. These dolphins can live for about 40 years.
Where They Live
The pantropical spotted dolphin lives in all the warm and mild waters around the world. This means they are found in oceans and seas between about 40 degrees North and 40 degrees South of the equator.
There are more than three million pantropical spotted dolphins in the world. This makes them the second most common type of dolphin, after the bottlenose dolphin. About two million of them live in the eastern Pacific Ocean. However, this number is much lower than it used to be. In the 1950s, there were at least 7 million of these dolphins.
They like to live in shallow, warm waters where the temperature is usually above 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Sometimes, they might even swim into the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal.
Dolphins and People
For a long time, the pantropical spotted dolphin's habit of swimming with yellowfin tuna was very dangerous for them. In the 1960s and 1970s, fishermen used large nets called purse seines to catch tuna. These nets would trap thousands of dolphins along with the tuna, and the dolphins would often die.
Over about 25 years, 75% of the dolphin population in the eastern Pacific was wiped out. More than half of the world's total population was lost. This problem became well-known to the public. Many large supermarkets then decided to only sell tuna caught in ways that don't harm dolphins. This is why you might see "dolphin-friendly" labels on tuna cans. Some of these products are approved by groups like the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Trust.
Even with "dolphin-safe" fishing methods, fishing activities can still cause problems for dolphin families. Sometimes, fishing operations can separate mothers from their babies, or make it harder for dolphins to have babies. This can affect how many young dolphins survive and how many new babies are born.
See also
In Spanish: Delfín manchado tropical para niños
