Behavior of Spinner Dolphins

Spinner dolphins, or Stenella longirostris, derive their name from the high, spinning leaps they make above the water's surface. These dolphins are social, playful and excellent at hunting. Spinner dolphins are native to many tropical areas with temperate weather and warm water such as Hawaii, Mexico and Japan. Spinner dolphins live in groups, called pods, which can number more than 1,000 dolphins.

  1. Hunting

    • Spinner dolphins eat fish, squid, shrimp and jellyfish.

      Spinner dolphins, like all dolphins, are carnivores. They hunt schools of fish and other marine life such as lantern fish, squid, jellyfish and shrimp. Spinner dolphins use echolocation, or sound waves in the water, to locate large groups of fish or other marine life at night. They usually hunt in deep water, about 3,000 feet below the surface of the sea, according to the Wild Dolphin Foundation. Small subgroups of spinner dolphins break from the larger group and travel across the sea in search of schools of fish. Once a school is located, the dolphins use underwater whistles to call the other dolphins to the area. Spinner dolphins travel great distances in search of food.

    Communication

    • Like other species of dolphins, spinner dolphins use clicking noises and whistles in order to communicate with the other members of the pod. Spinner dolphins also touch one another and slap the surface of the water with their fins, behaviors that are thought to be forms of communication. Although much is still unknown about the ways in which spinner dolphins communicate, dolphins in general are thought to be highly intelligent animals, according to Earthtrust.org.

    Sleep

    • Spinner dolphins sleep in groups for safety. According to the Wild Dolphin Foundation, the dolphins move close together, with males on the outside of the pack and females and calves on the inside for protection. Spinner dolphins do not sleep the way humans do. They do not enter a state of unconsciousness. Instead, only part of their brains are able to "sleep" at one time. During this rest period, the spinners do not use their sonar abilities, but rely on their sight to watch out for danger. Because of this, spinner dolphins rest in white sand bays with clear waters that are easy to see in.

    Reproduction

    • According to Dolphins-World.com, the spinning that the dolphins are known for is used most often by male dolphins in an attempt to attract mates. Male spinner dolphins reach sexual maturity at about 10 years of age, while females begin to mate at about 7. After mating, the female is pregnant for about 10 months before giving birth to a baby dolphin, called a calf. Calves stay close to their mothers for the first several months of life and rely on her for protection. Spinner calves nurse for about 24 months before beginning to hunt with the rest of the pod.