Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

This dolphin is well-shaped, with no remarkable features, and a prominant beak. Its dorsal fin is tall and curved, with a dark blue-grey cape. The flanks are a lighter grey, leading to pink-white undersides and black flippers. There are a number of dark stripes, one running from the eye to the anus (between the grey and white areas), and others running from the eye backwards onto the white ventral surface, often linking with the flipper. The grey on the flanks forks upward and away, curving onto the dorsal cape just before the fin. Adults measure between 1.8 and 2.5m, and weigh from 90-150kg.
The Striped Dolphin is easy to identify, with its tell-tale go-faster stripes.
The Striped Dolphin occupies both offshore and inshore waters.
This species takes midwater fish and squid, with laternfish making up at least one-third of the catch.
Groups range from a few animals to a few thousand, but often number bteween 100-500. Within each group are three segregations: non-mating adults, mating adults and juveniles. Striped Dolphins are an active species, regularly bowriding and leaping from the water. They vocalise with whistles and clicks.