- Body to at least 7 feet (2.1 m) long.
- Body dark gray on back; tan on sides; white on belly.
- Beak often long and slender, usually black above, white below.
- Tip of snout and lips distinctly black.
- Dorsal fin moderately falcate to triangular and very erect.
- Rides bow waves.
- Often jumps and spins on longitudinal axis.
- Distribution in oceanic and coastal tropical waters.
Striped dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba = Stenella styx
p. [113]
- Body to about 9 feet (2.7 m) long.
- Body dark gray or bluish gray on back; gray on sides; gray or white on belly.
- Distinctive black stripes from: 1) eye to anus, 2) eye to flipper.
- Distinctive black blaze from behind dorsal fin to side above flipper.
- Rides bow waves.
- Distribution temperate, subtropical, and tropical; seldom close to shore.
Saddleback dolphin
Delphinus delphis
p. [116]
- Body to 8.5 feet (2.6 m); usually less than 7.5 feet (2.3 m) long.
- Body brownish gray to black; belly and chest white; crisscross (hourglass) pattern of yellow tan on sides.
- Distinct black stripe from center of lower jaw to flipper.
- Rides bow waves.
- Distribution temperate and tropical; seldom close to shore.
Fraser's dolphin
Lagenoldelphis hosei
p. [120]
- Body to at least 8 feet (2.4 m) long.
- Body very robust in front of dorsal fin, resembling cross between saddleback dolphin and Atlantic white-sided dolphin.
- Beak very short and indistinct.
- Distinct black stripe from beak to area of anus.
- Dorsal fin and flippers small.
- Distribution tropical (not yet recorded in western North Atlantic).
Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Lagenorhynchus acutus
p. [123]
- Body to about 9 feet (2.7 m) long.
- Dorsal fin part gray, part black; tall and distinctly falcate.
- Distinctive patch of white on side; tan or yellow coloration below and behind dorsal fin, often visible on swimming animal.
- Beak short; all dark.
- Does not usually ride bow waves.
- Distribution Cape Cod to southern Greenland.