Spinner dolphin Facts
Spinner dolphin Facts
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| Interesting Spinner dolphin Facts: |
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| Spinning dolphin can reach 6 to 7 feet in length and 130 to 170 pounds of weight. Males are larger than females. |
| Spinning dolphins have dark grey backs. Grey color fades on lateral sides of the body. Belly is light grey or white-colored. Dark grey stripe stretches from eye to the flipper. |
| Spinner dolphin has small head, long, thin beak and 45 to 65 sharp teeth on each side of the upper and lower jaw. It has slender body, narrow rib cage and triangular dorsal fin. |
| Spinner dolphin is nocturnal creature (active during the night). It usually sleeps in the bays during the day. |
| Spinner dolphin is a carnivore (meat-eater). Its diet is based on squids, fish and shrimps. |
| Spinner dolphins hunt cooperatively, organized in groups. They communicate via clicks and whistles to locate position of dolphins in the group and to develop strategy required for the successful hunt. |
| Spinner dolphins can dive 900 feet in depth and stay 8 minutes under the water when they are searching for food. |
| Natural enemies of spinner dolphins are sharks, killer whales and pilot whales. |
| Spinner dolphins are very social animals. They live in groups (called pods) of 100 to 1.000 animals. Scientists believe that each spinner dolphin produces specific whistle which can be recognized by other members of the group. |
| Spinner dolphins travel large distances to avoid changes in water temperature and lack of food. They sometimes join groups of spotted dolphins and humpback whales on their migratory routes. |
| Spinner dolphins perform various acrobatics outside the water. They like to jump, twist and spin in the air and to ride on the waves produced by boats. |
| Mating season of spinner dolphin depends on the geographic location. |
| Pregnancy in females lasts 10 months and ends with one baby. Females produce offspring once in three years. At the age of 6 months, young dolphin starts to eat solid food, but its mother often nurtures it until the age of 2 years. Bond between the mother and her calf is very strong and it usually lasts for a lifetime. |
| Spinner dolphins reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 to 7 (females) and from 7 to 10 (males) years. |
| Spinner dolphin can survive from 20 to 30 years in the wild. |
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