Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Snorkeling in the Bahamas waters is one of the most fun activities any visitor to the island can partake in. With warm water and fascinating wildlife at every turn, exploring the aquatic areas near the Bahamas is something anyone, both young and old, can enjoy. One of the most popular sights is that of the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, a playful marine mammal who lives in the area.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Appearance

Most people are familiar with what a dolphin looks like, if only through photos or television. The Atlantic Spotted Dolphin is true to form, aside from its distinctive coloration. It is a large ocean dwelling mammal with a long beak that contains anywhere from 120 to about 160 teeth. These dolphins have long, graceful bodies with a single dorsal fin on their back and two pectoral fins fairly high up on the body. They have a blowhole, which they breath through, located on the top of their head. In fact, if it weren't for its spots it would look very much like a bottlenose dolphin.

The Atlantic Spotted Dolphin isn't born with its distinctive spots. At birth it is a light gray color with a paler stomach, but as it ages the skin on its back darkens and spots begin to appear. The underside of the dolphin remains a much paler white color. Full grown this breed of dolphin can reach over 7 and a half feet and weigh over 300 pounds, though not all spotted dolphins grow this large. Though a separate breed, they are genetically close enough to bottlenose dolphins to interbreed with them. Until they start developing their spots, juvenile spotted dolphins look very similar to bottlenose ones. They reach sexual maturity at different ages, from as young as 8 years old to as old as 15. Once they do reach that point, the females have calves every 3 years or so.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Eating Habits

Dolphins are great hunters, and can work together in a group to herd fish and make them easier to catch. They are also intelligent enough to have been spotted following fishing boats and picking up their scraps. The diet of the spotted dolphin is much like that of a bottlenose. They eat fish, squid, octopus, and other small marine animals. They can even use their long beaks to uncover fish that attempt to hide on sandy ocean bottoms.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Habitats

The Atlantic Spotted Dolphin can be found all up the east coast of the United States, and as far south as the southern tip of Brazil. Their range also extends all the way across the Atlantic to the northwestern coast of the African continent. Though they prefer the warm, shallow waters of the coast, they can also sometimes be found in the deep ocean. Their preferred depth is only about 30 feet or so, partly due to their need to come up to the surface to breath, but they can dive far deeper when needed, and can hold their breath for up to 10 minutes when necessary.