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| Distribution |
Presumably occurs over the length of the NC offshore zone, as there are stranding records for six of the eight coastal counties. Apparently it occurs mostly from Cape Hatteras northward, according to the NOAA website; for example, there is no record from Brunswick County, as of 2021. Most sightings are far offshore, beyond the Continental Slope.
Occurs in all of the world's oceans, but favors warm waters. It occurs over the length of the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Abundance |
A common species across its range. Though seldom seen offshore in NC waters, it has stranded often -- 20 strandings through 1995 in NC (Webster et al., 1995). The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History mammal collections database (2021) lists a surprising 46 stranding records for NC. Best considered as "likely uncommon" -- at least far offshore -- in NC waters. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Presumably occurs year-round, as it is not considered to be strongly migratory. Of the 20 strandings listed in Webster (1995), none were from July, August, or September, but it certainly is present in those months though perhaps farther offshore. The 46 strandings in the NMNH database cover nearly all months of the year, but there are relatively few in summer and early fall. |
| Habitat |
Generally in deep waters from the Continental Slope and farther to sea, mainly in warm waters. |
| Behavior |
This species also twists and rotates in the air when it jumps out of the water, but not as spectacularly as does the Spinner Dolphin. It occurs in often quite large groups, from 30 to several hundred. |
| Comments |
Sightings from pelagic trips are rare, considering that the species is supposedly quite common, and it has stranded often. Perhaps it indeed does occur mainly in the deeper waters far off the northern half of the state's coast, where fewer boats traverse. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
S3M |
| State Status |
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| Global Rank |
G5 |
| Federal Status |
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| subspecies |
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| synonym |
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