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Dolphin Dream
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| Dolphin Identification _|_ Sample I.D. catalog page. |
Captain Scott Smith's
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Identification ProjectIdentification of individual Atlantic Spotted Dolphin is central to any research and information gathering on this free-ranging species. It is essential when recording behaviors over a number over years to know who's who. This can prove difficult because the number of spots per dolphin increases with age, like a continually changing fingerprint.
The identification process starts with photographing both sides of each individual. Then they are identified and cataloged on paper and digitally. The pictures and catalog have to be updated every couple of years due to the added spots from age. The catalog contains over 100 individuals, most of their names comes from names of Bahama islands or relate to a permanent mark. Spotted dolphin with permanent I.D. marks such as notches in the fins or body, scars or other non-natural characteristics are much easier to keep track of from year to year, no matter how much the spotting pattern changes. It is interesting to note that these dolphin appear to be more outgoing and friendly to humans. We believe because they are easy to recognize, we tend to pay more attention to them, who in turn pay more attention to us.
The majority of spotted dolphin do not have permanent I.D. marks, and are much more difficult to catalog from year to year. They are born clean, and begin getting spots at about four years old. As the dolphins age, black spots fill in the light underside, white spots fill the darker upper sides and back. The spotting patterns take on a mottled appearance in adults, eventually fusing together on older dolphins. This helps us with age estimates as well.
Newborn - under one year
Two-tone - 1-5 years
Spotted - 6-11 years
Mottled - 12-17 years
Fused - 18 years plus
| Dolphin Identification _|_ Sample I.D. catalog page. |
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