Mammals
Striped Dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba · also called striped dolphins, streaker dolphin
Launching several metres clear of the water in a burst of energetic acrobatics, a striped dolphin’s dark side stripes flash briefly in the sunlight before it splashes back into deep offshore water, one of the highest-leaping dolphin species found anywhere in the ocean.
Overview
The striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, is a distinctively marked, deep-water dolphin native to temperate and tropical ocean waters across a broad range spanning the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Its striking side stripe pattern, exceptionally high aerial leaps, and strong preference for offshore waters make it one of the more visually distinctive and acrobatic dolphin species found across the world’s oceans.
An acrobat of the open ocean
Favouring deep water far from shore, the striped dolphin has built a reputation around its remarkable aerial displays, leaping higher than most other dolphin species manage during its energetic surface activity.
Status
Least Concern overall but decreasing in parts of its range, with declines linked to bycatch in fishing gear and continued hunting pressure in specific regions.
Striped Dolphin: common questions
Why is it called the striped dolphin?
This species displays a distinctive pattern of dark stripes running along its sides from the eye toward the flipper and flank, a striking marking that gives the species its common name and helps distinguish it from other similarly sized dolphins sharing the same offshore waters.
How high can a striped dolphin jump?
This species performs some of the highest leaps documented in any dolphin species, launching several metres into the air during energetic aerial displays, a behaviour that makes it one of the more visually spectacular dolphins to observe when active at the surface.
Does the striped dolphin prefer coastal or offshore water?
This species generally favours deeper, offshore waters over shallow coastal areas, a habitat preference that distinguishes it from some other dolphin species that spend more time closer to shore in bays and harbours.
Why has the striped dolphin faced conservation criticism in some regions?
This species has historically been targeted by drive hunts in certain regions, a hunting method that drives dolphins into shallow water for capture or slaughter, drawing significant international conservation attention and criticism directed at the specific hunting practices involved.