Species · GBIF taxon 5220060
Spinner Dolphin
Stenella longirostrisAlso known as Long-snouted Spinner Dolphin, Spinner, Long-beaked Dolphin
Spinner dolphins are highly social cetaceans renowned for their spectacular aerial acrobatics, leaping up to three meters above the water while spinning multiple times on their longitudinal axis. They hunt in large, coordinated pods at night, diving deep to feed on the rising scattering layer of fish and squid before returning to shallow bays to rest during the day. Their complex vocalizations, including signature whistles and echolocation clicks, help maintain tight group cohesion across vast ocean expanses.
AcrobaticMarineSocial
Licensed reference(c) Liisa Havukainen, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Lanternfish
- Squid
- Shrimp
Predators
- Tiger Shark
- Killer Whale
- False Killer Whale
ThreatsBycatch in gillnets, purse-seine fishing, marine pollution, acoustic disturbance
HabitatsOffshore tropical and subtropical waters, deep ocean basins, coastal reefs
Life span20 to 25 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyDelphinidae
- SpeciesStenella longirostris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe from a respectful distance on a boat.
- What to notice
- Look for tight, slow-moving groups close to shore during mid-day hours, often moving in unison.
- Support conservation
- Never approach, circle, or block the path of resting dolphins; allow them to move.
Responsible observation
- Keep Distance: Maintain at least 50 yards distance when observing from a vessel.
- Do Not Swim: Avoid entering the water with resting pods in shallow bays.
- Limit Noise: Put engines in neutral to prevent acoustic disruption to their communication.
Predator (c) Kris-Mikael Krister, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Close Relative 
Close Relative Wanax01 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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