|
| Distribution |
Assuming that sightings from research vessels are correct, the species essentially occurs only far offshore in NC waters, beyond the Continental Slope. The few known records off NC are beyond 100 miles from the coast, plus two beach strandings (Onslow and New Hanover counties).
Occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, apparently north to at least MA. |
| Abundance |
Considered to be common to abundant in its range, which is typically quite far offshore. In addition to the several reports above, the only other information that we could find relating to its occurrence in NC waters was on the NOAA website, which states that from 1995-1996, 15 Pantropical Spotted Dolphins were stranded between North Carolina and Florida (NMFS unpublished data). Also, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History mammal collections (2016) lists one stranding record for NC -- in Onslow County. Despite such strandings, it is believed that healthy individuals remain far offshore (essentially beyond the Continental Slope), where its abundance there is unknown. Considered extremely rare within 100 miles of the NC coastline. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Probably occurs year-round, as spotted dolphins are not strongly migratory. The date of the Onslow County stranding was 2 April 2002. |
| Habitat |
This is a species of deep offshore waters, occurring farther from shore than does the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, though presumably the ranges overlap. Like that species, Pantropicals favor warm waters. |
| Behavior |
This species occurs in very large groups, often 100 to 1,000 individuals. Like almost all Stenella dolphins, they are very active and often leap out of the water. |
| Comments |
This species was confused with Atlantic Spotted Dolphin for most of the 20th Century, and they are still easily confused, especially when young. The fact that most websites seem to lack specific data on the species is disconcerting. Webster et al. (1995) did not list any strandings for this species in NC as of 1994 or 1995, as opposed to 25 for Atlantic Spotted Dolphin. That suggests that Pantropical is either quite rare in NC waters, or at least is quite rare fairly close to shore. At any rate, much more information about its occurrence in NC waters is needed -- though we must assume that nearly all spotted dolphins within about 50-100 miles of the NC shore are Atlantic Spotteds, and that nearly all seen more than 100 miles from shore are Pantropical Spotteds (as depicted by locations of sightings off the Eastern coast of the US, in the NOAA publication). |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
SUM |
| State Status |
|
| Global Rank |
G5 |
| Federal Status |
|
| subspecies |
|
| other_comName |
Bridled Dolphin |
| synonym |
|
