Scientific Name:
Stenella attenuata

Distribution:
Occurs in all tropical and warm temperate oceanic waters

Physical Description:
The Pantropical spotted dolphin is easy to identify because of the spots throughout its body.  The spots are absent when they are born but gradually appear and increase as they become adults. This species is also characterized by the white tip of its beak and the dark line that runs from its jaw to the pectoral fin. They have a dark back and lighter belly.

The spotted dolphin is one of the most abundant cetaceans in the world. Unfortunately, it has suffered a high mortality from purse seine fisheries in some parts of the world.  The spotted dolphin is one of the species of dolphins that commonly strand in the Philippines.

Scientific Name:
Stenella longirostris

Distribution:
Occurs throughout the tropics and sub-tropic waters

Physical Description:
The spinner dolphin is named for its unique behavior of leaping out of the water and spinning on its longitudinal axis. It’s main physical characteristic is its long and narrow beak (Latin: “longus” is long and “rostrum” is beak). The tip of its beak is dark/black and it has a dark stripe that runs from the its eye to the pectoral fin. The basic color pattern is a dark dorsal cape with lighter gray sides, and white belly.

The spinner dolphin is very common throughout the waters of the Philippine and is the most frequent species of marine mammal to strand in the Philippines.

Scientific Name:
Steno bredanensis

Distribution:
Occurs in tropical and warm temperate waters

Physical Description:
The rough-toothed dolphin got its name from the rough texture of its teeth due to the numerous fine longitudinal grooves. This species is distinguished by the shape of its head, which lacks a clear delineation at the base of the melon or crease. Its “forehead” slopes smoothly from the blowhole to its narrow beak.  It also has a tall and erect dorsal fin and large and long pectoral fins.  Its color pattern is a dark dorsal cape with lighter gray sides and light belly and throat area.

This species is rarely sighted in the wild in the Philippines and often found in deep offshore waters. However, this species frequently strands.

Scientific Name:
Feresa attenuata

Distribution:
Occurs in tropical waters

Physical Description:
The pygmy killer whale has a small, mostly dark body and is moderately robust in the chest area and slender in the back area.  It has no beak. Its rounded head and melon extend forward of the front of the mouth. It slips and belly are white. It also has a large erect and falcate dorsal fin and moderately long, tapered pectoral fins.

They are rarely sighted or encountered in the wild but they frequently strand in the Philippines.