Species Guide: Different Types of Dolphins
Species guide: different types of dolphins Known for their intelligence, bright behavior, and great learning abilities, dolphins are some of the most fascinating sea creatures in the world. There are many types of dolphins, each with unique and distinctive characteristics that set them apart from the others.
In the following article, we will explore in depth the different species of dolphins, their behavior, their communities, their diet, and more about these amazing sea creatures.
Types of Dolphins
Indonesia is a country with a very large water area. More than 70% of Indonesia’s territory is ocean which makes it have various riches, such as coral reefs, various types of fish, and other sea creatures.
The types of dolphins that can be found in Indonesian waters are around 16 types out of a total of 40 types worldwide. Here are some types of dolphin species along with their characteristics and brief descriptions.
- Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
Striped Dolphin or Euphrosyne Dolphin is a striped dolphin that has the Latin name (Stenella coeruleoalba). This marine mammal can grow to a length of 2.4 m. with a weight of 160 kg.
This type of dolphin is widespread in the world’s waters and can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean.
The Indonesian region, which is sandwiched between two oceans, namely the Indian and Pacific, makes its waters a striped dolphin community. The conservation status of striped dolphins is included in the Least Concern group.
- Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis)
This dolphin, which can grow to 2.6 m. with a weight of 160 kg, is known in English as the Rough Toothed Dolphin.
The rough-toothed dolphin has the characteristics of a small fist with a long beak without a fold on the melon. The dorsal fin is longer when compared to other dolphin fins.
The body is dark, the lips are white, and the throat and dark dorsal cape narrow between the blowhole and dorsal fins. The ventral side of the rough-toothed dolphin has irregular spots or patches.
- Frasar’s Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)
The Frasar Dolphin or Frasars Dolphin or Sarawak Dolphin is a dolphin found in Indonesian waters. This intelligent marine mammal with the Latin name Lagenodelphos hosei is the most muscular and stocky dolphin when compared to other types of dolphins.
The Frasar Dolphin can grow to 2 to 2.7 meters in length, weighing 160 to 210 kg. In addition to being muscular and stocky, another characteristic is that it has a smaller dorsal fin than other dolphin species. The upper body is bluish gray or brownish, and the lower body is usually pale white or pink.
- Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Compared to other types of dolphins, the bottlenose dolphin is the most popular dolphin species. In English, this type of dolphin has various names, such as Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Bottle-nosed Dolphin, and Bottlenosed Dolphin.
The characteristics of the bottlenose dolphin are that it can grow to 2 to 4 meters in length. with a body weight of 135 to 636 kg. Its body color is between light gray to black with a lighter color on the stomach.
- Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
Before being declared a specific dolphin species in 1998, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin was considered the same species as the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). In English, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is known as the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin or Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin.
In its natural community, this type of dolphin can grow up to 2.6 meters with a weight of 230 kg. The upper body is dark gray and the stomach is whitish gray with grayish spots.
In addition to being found in Indonesian waters, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin can be found in the waters around India, the North Sea of Australia, the South China Sea, the Red Sea, to the east coast of Africa.
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Delphinus capensis)
In English, the long-beaked dolphin is known as the Long-beaked Common Dolphin. This dolphin is a type that has a relatively small body, which is around 1.9 to 2.5 meters. weighing 80 kg to 235 kg.
The characteristics of this dolphin are its long snout, slender body and gray color, white fins and belly and yellowish chest.
- Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
Spinner Dolphin, Long-beaked Dolphin, or Long-snouted Dolphin is the name for the spinner dolphin in English. This type of dolphin has the characteristics of a relatively small body with a body length of around 2 meters. and a weight of 50 to 77 grams. Spinner dolphins have the power to jump and spin often on their body axis.
- Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)
The international name for this type of dolphin is Indo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphin, Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin, Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, or Chinese White Dolphin.
Among other dolphin species, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is included in the medium type with a body length of around 2.8 m and a weight of 250 – 280 kg.
- Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus)
Risso’s Dolphin or called Grey Dolphin is the alias name for the Risso’s dolphin. This type of dolphin is quite large with a body length of around 2.6 to 4 m. with a weight of 300 to 500 kg. The characteristics of the Risso’s dolphin are its round head and there are vertical folds on the front, and the anterior side and dorsal fin are larger.
- Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata)
The spotted dolphin is a species that has the Latin name Stenella attenuata which is synonymous with Stenella graffmani. In English, this dolphin has a number of calls, such as Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, Bridled Dolphin, and Narrow-snouted Dolphin.
The body of the spotted dolphin tends to be small or around 2 mtr. weighing 114 kg. Its characteristics are that it has a slender snout and is an active and attractive dolphin with higher jumps.
Seeing and Swimming with Dolphins in Bali
Nowadays, watching dolphins is not only possible in the open sea, but now there are many places to watch, learn and swim with dolphins in Indonesia including Bali, precisely at Bali Exotic Marine Park. If you are interested in the Bali Exotic Marine Park program, please contact our website for further information. Of course, the best Bali dolphin watching is only at Bali Exotic Marine Park.