by Eric Fauble

Created on: April 25, 2009   Last Updated: June 23, 2009

The Atlantic White-sided dolphin is a distinctively colored dolphin found in the cool to temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. This type of dolphin was named by Gray in 1828. The specific name acutus comes from the Latin for pointed and refers to the sharply pointed dorsal fin. L. acutus is one of the six oceanic dolphins in the genus Lagenorhynchus.

The Atlantic White-sided dolphin is a little longer than most oceanic dolphins. It is over a metre in length at birth, growing to about 2.8 meters in males and 2.5 meters in females at maturity. It weighs anywhere between 200 kilograms and 230 kilograms once the dolphin is fully grown. The female dolphins reach sexual maturity between 6 to 12 years of age, while the males reach sexual maturity between the ages of 7 and 11. The gestation period for the Atlantic White-sided dolphin is approximately 11 months, and the lactation period lasts about a year and a half, both of which are common in dolphin species. Certain individuals can live to 22 years, more likely the males, and 27 years, most likely the females. However, both can reach the approximate age of 25.

The key characteristic of distinguishing this species of dolphin is the white to yellow patch found behind the dorsal fin of the dolphin on each of its side. The variation in color to the Atlantic White-sided dolphin is unique amongst the mixtures of whites, blues, and grays of many other pelagic cetaceans.

This species of dolphin is endemic to the North Atlantic Ocean. Areas of particularly high population density includes the shores of Newfoundland and Cape Cod, which is the triangular area of sea between the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Greenland, even the North Sea. The total population of the Atlantic White-sided dolphin is hypothesized to be around 200-300,000 individuals.

Here is some sad news about the Atlantic White-sided dolphin. Historically, these dolphins were killed in drives conducted from Norway and Newfoundland. Luckily, these drives have ceased in the recent years, but however, they do still occur to a lesser extent from the Faroe Islands. It is here where the meat and the blubber of the dolphins are in a high regard for food. Reported catches in the years from 1995 through 1998 were 157, 152, 350, and 438. Seven years ago, the numbers of the dolphins caught and killed was an astonishing 774.

As of today, these dolphins are least concerned in the wild. There numbers are continuing to grow throughout the years and will continue to do so. It's just up to the human beings to keep the oceans clean and pollution-free, so the animals can have their homes.

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