The Spinner dolphin is found in all the tropical and warm temperate waters around the world. Spinner dolphins grow to a length of 1.7-2.5 meters (5.5-7 feet) long at adulthood, and will weigh in around 75-95 kg (165-209 pounds), and newborns range from 0.75 to 0.85 meters. These dolphins have a very slender snout, which harbors numerous sets of small, sharp teeth on both the upper and lower jaw. The Spinner dolphins do vary in coloration and size, but general appearance markings are dominant. These markings include a dark gray coloring over the back, silver gray along the sides and a white to cream colored belly. Very dark gray or black stripes run the distance of the side of the Spinner from the outline of the eyes to the flipper. The lips and end of the snout are dark in color as well.
Spinner dolphins once cascaded the earth's oceans in pods that numbers neared a thousand. However, due to a decrease in population, it is more common to see Spinners in pods ranging from 20 to 100. Mothers and calves are never far from each other, and pods usually contain equal numbers of males and females. Spinner dolphins have been known to associate, and even travel with pods of other species of dolphins and whales. A few of the known "friends" included the Atlantic Spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphins, and Pilot whales.
Spinner dolphins feed on various fish and mollusks. Due to the fact that Spinner dolphins tend to hunt in groups which contain yellowfin tuna, these dolphins often become victim of fishing nets. Tuna fisheries in Hawaii, Peru and Mexico use the Spinner dolphins to aid them in catching the tuna. The yellowfin tuna will "hunt" under the Spinner dolphin, swimming under the pod. The fisherman will herd the dolphins, along with the tuna, with small watercraft and then will be trapped in huge nets. The nets are then "pulled in" catching both the tuna and the Spinner dolphins. It is believed that these types of fishing practices have reduced the population of the Spinner dolphin by 87%.
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