Atlantic spotted dolphin

Description

The painted dolphin,spotted dolphin or Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) is a species of cetacean odontocete of the family Delphinidae inhabiting the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean north.The adult specimens have a very distinctive stained coloration,described by its vulgar name.The coloration of the painted dolphin varies considerably as it grows.The young are uniform gray.When the young are weaned,the spots begin to appear.The juveniles have some dark spots on their abdomen,and white spots on their flanks.The dorsal and caudal fins are darker gray than the rest of the body.When the animal matures,the spots become more dense and spread throughout the body,until it is black with white spots.The painted dolphin reaches a length of 2.20 to 2.50 meters.It can easily be confused with the porpoise and with the tropical spotted dolphin ( Stenella attenuata ) when observed at sea.It differs by a clear band that goes from the shoulder to the dorsal fin,and because its complexion is more robust than that of the tropical spotted dolphin.Like other creatures of the genus,it is a gregarious dolphin.He is a fast swimmer,enthusiastic companion of ships and prone to show series of acrobatics.