Atlantic white-sided dolphin

What do Atlantic white-sided dolphins look like?

The Atlantic white-sided dolphin gets its name from the distinctive white stripe on its side, which starts just below the dorsal fin and runs into a yellow/ochre blaze continuing onto the tailstock which is easily seen when the animal is bow-riding or porpoising. They are quite stocky little dolphins with short stubby beaks yet a relatively large dorsal fin.

What’s life like for an Atlantic white-sided dolphin?

These little dolphins are perhaps more shy and less demonstrative than other dolphins, but they’re just as capable of performing impressive leaps and breaches. They are fast swimmers and will occasionally bow-ride. Usually found in pods of anything between two and 50 individuals it is not uncommon to see much larger pods (hundreds or even thousands of dolphins) where they  have found dense concentrations of food. Atlantic white-sided dolphins are pretty sociable and are known to associate with a variety of other species.

What do Atlantic white-sided dolphins eat?

They have a very flexible palate and seem just as happy munching down on herring, cod or mackerel as they are snacking on shrimp and sandeels. Atlantic white-sided dolphins are also known to be ‘co-operative feeders’ which means they work together as a group to herd fish into large groupings where they can be picked off more easily.

Where do Atlantic white-sided dolphins live?

Atlantic white-sided dolphins have a limited distribution but are found in both temperate and cold waters of the north Atlantic Ocean, usually over deep-slope continental shelves and canyon waters. They tend to prefer deeper water and aren’t seen close to shore that often.