Mammals · Artiodactyla · Delphinidae

White-beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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It often rides the bow and stern waves of boats, and is notably acrobatic, frequently leaping clear of the water.

Weight

180 kg – 354 kg

Size

2.3 m – 3.1 m

Lifespan

40 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Hierarchical pack

Lives in an organised hierarchical group, typical of cooperative hunters.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore Variable activity In packs Ocean Mammal

18countries 20parks 19dive sites17same family

Fun facts

anatomíaIt lives in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and is one of the largest-bodied coastal dolphins in the northern hemisphere.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (marine mammal)
Habitat & environment: Temperate and subarctic coastal and shelf waters of the North Atlantic
Birth weight: 40 kg; 1.1-1.2 m long at birth
Size at birth: 1.1 - 1.2 m long at birth
Sexual maturity: Female: 6-10 years | Male: 7-13 years
Gestation / incubation: 10-11 months
Litter / clutch size: 1 young a season

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; Frontiers in Veterinary Science; Dolphins World; Oceanwide Expeditions; NOAA Fisheries; AllFishes.org; Mammal Society UK; Wikipedia (White-beaked dolphin); Grokipedia