Atlantic White-sided Dolphin: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Dolphins · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Behind its back fin, on each side, it has a white to pale yellow patch. That touch of yellow is unusual among ocean dolphins.
2. Pods can number in the hundreds, yet most members are not family. They seem to travel together for safety in numbers.
3. The bigger the group, the more these dolphins jump and leap. All that splashing may be a way of being social.
4. They squeal, whistle, click and buzz, and they get noisier when they are hanging out together.
5. Its Latin name acutus means pointed, after its sharp back fin. In 2025 it was given a genus all of its own.

The quiz

1. What colour is the patch behind its back fin?

• Bright red
• Deep blue
• Pink
• White to pale yellow (correct)

A white to pale yellow patch sits behind the back fin on both sides.

2. What have studies found about the members of a pod?

• They are all brothers and sisters
• Most are not related (correct)
• They are all one mother's young
• There are never more than five

Members are mostly unrelated and travel together for safety.

3. When do these dolphins jump and breach the most?

• When they are alone
• Only during storms
• When they are in larger groups (correct)
• Only at night

They jump and breach more often in larger groups.

4. When do they make the most noise?

• When they are socialising (correct)
• When they are sleeping
• When they are alone
• When the water is calm

Their noise increases while they are socialising.

5. What does its Latin name acutus mean?

• White
• Fast
• Pointed (correct)
• Small

Acutus means pointed, after its sharp back fin.

More about the Atlantic White-sided Dolphin

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries