ral body shape. However, the Atlantic spotted
dolphins have considerable purplish gray in their background colors and
the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphins are more dark gray to brownish gray.
This along with considerable differences in the overall sizes of the two
species should permit positive identification. In general, the key
differences between spotted and bottlenosed dolphins are as follows:

ATLANTIC SPOTTED ATLANTIC BOTTLENOSED
DOLPHIN DOLPHIN

MAXIMUM SIZE

To 7.5-8 feet (2.3-2.4 m). To 8-10 feet (2.4-3.1 m)
inshore, to as much as 12 feet
(3.7 m) offshore.

BODY COLOR

Dark purplish gray on back; Dark gray on back; lighter
lighter gray on sides and gray on sides; white or pink
belly; body becomes on belly (old animals may
increasingly spotted with age. have a few spots on belly,
but most are not spotted).

HEAD AND BEAK

Head more slender; beak Head robust; beak short;
longer; lips and top of snout beak usually uniformly gray
often white. (older animals' beak may be
white at tip).

NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Usually found more than 5 Usually more coastal, often
miles offshore; most common ascending rivers and entering
inside 100-fathom curve. lagoonal and estuarine
areas.

Young Atlantic spotted dolphins are so similar in appearance to the
Atlantic bottlenosed dolphins that the frequent reports of mixed schools
of the two species are probably occasioned by groups of spotted dolphins
which include some young, still unspotted animals.

Atlantic spotted dolphins might also be confused with bridled dolphins.
The two can be most readily distinguished by the following
characteristics:

ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN BRIDLED DOLPHIN

BODY SHAPE

Usually robust, often like More slender, more like
that of the Atlantic that of the Atlantic striped
bottlenosed dolphin. dolphin.

BODY COLOR

Spotted; purplish gray on Spotted; side of head light
back; lighter gray on sides gray; body has stripe from