Page 16 - OAS Magazine Q2 Summer
P. 16
SEEING
SPOTS
Atlantic spotted dolphin are among the most misidentified dolphins because of their changing appearance over time. At birth these animals may look similar to other dolphins. They have no spots until they reach adulthood. And yet, even then, some adults may have only a handful of spots. When fully grown, the Atlantic spotted dolphin spans up to 7-1/2 feet and can weigh from 240 to 360 pounds, with the males being much larger than the females. They are wildly distributed in oceans around the United States, Africa, Europe, the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico. Like many large marine mammals, they face the constant threat of pollution in their natural environment and suffer from illegal hunting by fishermen.
PHOTOS BY: KEN KIEFER AND CHRISTIAN VIZL
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