lphin." These are a black
circle around the eye with an extension to the junction (apex) of the
rostrum and the melon (present in nearly all dolphins) and a broad black
stripe from the origin of the flipper to the corner of the mouth. This
mouth-to-flipper stripe tends to fade as spotting increases. Both the
upper and lower lips are white or pinkish.

Natural History Notes

Virtually nothing is known of the natural history of bridled dolphins
except that they have been observed in small herds of from 5 to 30
individuals and sometimes ride the bow wave of a vessel.

May Be Confused With

At sea, bridled dolphins may be confused with Atlantic spotted dolphins
or spinner dolphins. Differences by which they may be distinguished from
the first are tabularized on p. 105. Differences between spinner and
bridled dolphins permitting identification at sea are as follows:

BRIDLED DOLPHIN SPINNER DOLPHIN

COLORATION

Distinct cape on top of head; Dark gray on back; tan or
side of head light gray; yellowish tan on sides; white
distinct stripes from flippers on belly,
to corner of mouth and from
dark circles around eye to
apex of melon.

BEAK

Shorter and more slender; all Extremely long and slender;
black; lips white. dark gray to black on top,
white below; lips black.

DORSAL FIN

Uniformly dark gray. Often lighter gray in middle,
dark around border.

Distribution

Bridled dolphins occur in tropical and subtropical waters primarily near
coastal areas and islands, but are best known from the West Indies. They
have been reported from the Antilles, from Texas, and from Florida north
to North Carolina. It has been speculated that this species replaces the
Atlantic spotted dolphin around the West Indies.

Bridled dolphins have not yet been described from the South American
coast.

Stranded Specimens

Bridled dolphins have from 29 to 34 teeth in each upper jaw and from 33
to 36 in each lower jaw. They can be distinguished from spinner
dolphins, which have 46-65 teeth in each jaw, by this character alone.

They may be distinguished from spotted dolphins only if the color
pattern of the head is clearly visible. If it has faded, the specimen
will probably require