Costa Rican Spinner Dolphins

Costa Rican Spinner Dolphin

Costa Rican spinner dolphins, as is obvious from the name, are found almost exclusively in Costa Rica. The dolphin’s scientific name is “Stenella longirostris”. The dolphin is small in size and is mostly found in tropical waters. The Costa Rican spinner dolphin is famous all over the world because it can perform various acrobatic feats that are amazing to watch. The dolphin is known for spinning on its longitudinal axis as it spins through the air. The spinner dolphin is known as part of the Delphinidae – which is the family of the toothed whales. This is the main reason why the dolphin has been labeled ‘spinner’. The dolphin’s body is shaped towards the smaller size and its build is slimmer than most other dolphins. This may be the main reason for its amazing athletic feats in the water and out of it. Adult dolphins can grow up to 240 cm and can reach a mass of up to 79 kg. The rostrum on the spinner dolphin is elongated and the dorsal fin is shaped in a triangular form. The bodies of Costa Rican spinner dolphins are covered with tripartite patterns full of color. The upper side of the dolphin is dark gray in color, the sides of the spinner dolphin are light gray and the underside or belly of the dolphin is pale gray or white in color. Running from the flipper to the eye is also a dark colored band like shape on the spinner dolphin’s body. There is a thin and light line bordering the band that crosses the spinner dolphin’s body. Compared to other dolphins in similar families, the spinner dolphin has a larger variety of body shape and colors. In the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the spinner dolphins have smaller heads with smaller skulls and the rostrum is also shorter in comparison with other dolphins. There is another type of spinner dolphin that is called ‘dwarf spinner dolphin’ with dimmer and lighter tripartite color palettes. There are some types of spinner dolphin males that have slanted fins. These fins point outwards from the front of the dolphin’s body. The male Costa Rican spinner dolphins also have weird shaped lumps/ humps on the back of their body. The caudal flukes of some types of spinner dolphins may also be turned to face upwards.

In areas like Costa Rica, spinner dolphins spend the day taking rest in shallow waters and generally exhibiting laziness. When evening falls, they go off-shore in search of food. They travel through different bays throughout the day and are very quick in the water when they prefer. Spinner dolphins are social by nature. They interact well with humans as well as within themselves and other dolphins in the sea. They are generally friendly creatures and do not react aggressively unless severely provoked in a life threatening situation. Some families may also live together as one big group. They may also hunt and feed together as part of a social family. Mothers of this species form very strong bonds with the younger dolphins.

Video for Costa Rican Spinner Dolphin

Reference

https://www.divinedolphin.com/Spinners/index.htm