Large robust dolphin with short beak, large, often erect, sickle-shapes dorsal fin, black back and distinctive long white patch on side extending caudally as narrow yellow/ochre band.(B142)

Weight:

Length:

• 2.52.7m / 8-9ft (D23)
• Female about 2.25m. Male about 2.5m (B142)
• New-born: Length about 110cm (v)

Wingspan:

External Appearance:

• Body: stout torpedo shape.
• Head: Snout rounded, beak short, black. Teeth sharp-pointed, small (about 5mm diameter), 29-40 pairs per jaw. Thin black line from rostrum to black eye patch.
• Dorsal: black, flanks dark grey, with white elongated oval blaze extending from below dorsal fin to region above anus. Yellow/ochre elongated band continuing from dorsal edge of white band caudally towards tail.
• Abdomen: white.
• Narrow dark stripe from angle of mouth to flippers.
• Flippers: pointed sickle-shape, black.
• Fin: central along back, sickle-shaped, relatively tall and more erect in adult males.
• Tail: stock very thick, narrowing close to tail flukes - strongly concave trailing edge, slight notch.

(B142)

• Britain & Ireland: north Scottish waters including northern North Sea and south down Atlantic seaboard to southwest Britain and Ireland.

(B51, B142)

Movement:

• Around Britain: most commonly seen August to October; rarely seen in winter (B142).

Habitat:

• Not particularly coastal; mainly in offshore waters (B142).

• Fish - e.g. Micromesistius, Clupea, Gadus, Scomber, Merlangius, Osmerus, Trisopterus and Merluccius spp.
• Squid - Loligo spp.
• Gammarid crustaceans.

(B142)

Feeding Behaviour: --

Breeding:

• Births mainly early summer (May to July).
• Gestation 10-12 months.
• Lactation about 18 months.
• Calving interval may be about 2-3 years.
• (B142)

Breeding Behaviour: --

Activity:

• Fast swimmer.
• Sometimes breaches.
• (B142)

Social Behaviour:

• Around Britain mainly in groups of less than ten individuals.
• Herds may contain 50-100 individuals.
• Mixed age and sex.
• (B142)

Organisations (UK Contacts):

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• The Mammal Society
• Mammals Trust
• British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)
• Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)
• Earthkind
• The Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust
• Sea Life Centres
• Sea Mammal Research Unit
• Sea Watch Foundation
• UK Marine Mammal Strandings Project
• Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society

Electronic Library (further reading):

• MARINE MAMMAL MEDIC HANDBOOK
• Oil Spills and Marine Wildlife: Guidelines for a Response
• RSPCA - Stranded whales, dolphins and porpoises
• Stranded Cetaceans
• British Mammal Factsheets

General Legislation:

• "Dolphins (Cetacea)" are listed on Schedule 5 (Protected animals) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 adds "reckless damage or disturbance" to the offence of intentionally damaging any structure or place which a wild animal listed in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 together with a further extension to protect Schedule 5 cetaceans by the addition of an offence of "intentionally or recklessly disturbing a cetacean or basking shark in any place".

Individual techniques:

• Refloatation of Stranded Whales & Dolphins
• Lifting and Moving of Stranded Whales & Dolphins
• Accommodation of Casualty Whales & Dolphins