Striped Dolphin

• Irish name: An deilf stríocach.
• Latin name: Stenella coeruleoalba.
• Size: 2.2 m.
• Diet: Poor cod, whiting, sprat and squid.

DESCRIPTION:

A slender, streamlined dolphin with a long narrow beak and falcate dorsal fin. Its diagnostic stripe runs from the eye to the anus along both sides of the body, while a shorter stripe runs from the eye towards the pectoral fin. Its underside is predominantly white. A light grey streak occurs just under the dorsal fin.

Behaviour:

Large pods may be seen moving fast with synchronised breaches on occasion. They breach regularly where they may land on their sides. They may bow ride vessels.

In Ireland:

Striped dolphins tend to frequent offshore waters along the continental shelf but they strand regularly along Atlantic coasts. Knowledge is limited on the species off Ireland but Irish waters are likely to represent the northern limit of their range.