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Dolphins in Newfoundland and Labrador
Dauphin à flancs blancs/Dauphin à nez blanc
White-beaked dolphin: 2.7 meters; 200 kilograms
White-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhychus albirostris) are frequent travelers to Newfoundland and Labrador and are often confused with white-sided dolphins. Its short white beak marks it apart. The white patches fore and aft of the dorsal fin can be seen when the animal surfaces to breathe. The large grey and white patches that straddle the back behind the fin extend almost to the tail and distinguish it from the white-sided dolphin whose sides are more yellow. It is common to the east and northeast coasts and colder water. Occasionally it is entrapped in ice.
Dauphin à nez blanc (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)
Taille: Environ 2,5 à 3 m
Poids: 135 à 275 kg
Mode de vie: Très grégaires, ils peuvent former des troupeaux allant jusqu'à 1 500 individus.
Longévité: Inconnue
Observations: Régulières dans le golfe, très rares dans l'estuaire
Notes: Il bondit parfois hors de l'eau et retombe toujours sur le côté. Moins côtier que le dauphin à flancs blancs, il est moins connu.
White-sided dolphin: 2.4 meters; 190 kilograms
"Squidhound" and "Jumper" are popular names for white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus). They are seen with pothead whales because they too feed on herring, smackerel and squid. Like most whales, they have black or deep grey backs with white underbellies, but running the length of their bodies is a light grey band. These dolphins have two oval patches under and behind the dorsal fin. The first is creamy and the second yellow. Groups of 10 to 50 white-sided dolphins can be seen around the Avalon and southern reaches of the island. They are exciting to observe as they leap from the water.
Dauphin à flancs blancs (Lagenorhynchus acutus)
Taille: 2 à 2,7 m
Poids: 180 à 230 kg
Mode de vie: Très grégaires, ils peuvent former des troupeaux de quelques centaines d'individus.
Longévité: Environ 30 ans
Observations: Régulières dans le golfe, rares dans l'estuaire
Notes: Il effectue souvent des sauts spectaculaires hors de l'eau et retombe toujours tête première. Il s'associe souvent aux rorquals communs qui s'alimentent.
Common dolphin: 2 meters; 80 kilograms
Known for bowriding, zigzagging around boats, leaping or breaching from the water, common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) may be observed in groups of several hundred offshore on the Grand Banks. They have the most elaborate colour pattern of all the whales. Dark grey on the back and light grey underneath with a mustard yellow band running from the head down its side and under the triangular black dorsal fin. A grey stripe begins where the yellow stops and it arches up over the black back towards the tail. Its eye is outlined in black and set into the yellow band.
Others sharing Newfoundland waters
Web Site Developer Susan Guerrero
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