Atlantic spotted dolphin
Stenella frontalis
- Scientific name
- Stenella frontalis
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Where to see it
- Caribbean & Tropical Atlantic
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The Atlantic spotted dolphin is born without any spots, which appear and multiply as it ages. Playful by nature, it often approaches boats to ride their bow waves.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.