Clymene Dolphin
| Scientific Name | Stenella clymene |  | |
| English Common Name | Clymene / Short-snouted Spinner dolphin | ||
| Taxonomy | Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Sub-order: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae Genus: Stenella Species: clymene | ||
| Behaviour | Highly active and the only other species besides the Long-snouted spinner dolphin to spin longitudinally on its axis. Known to bow-ride and found in groups of between 50 and 500 individuals. | ||
| World Distribution | The distribution of Clymene dolphins is poorly known however they are known to favour tropical and subtropical waters and occasionally temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They are usually found in deep water although there have been some sightings off coastal areas. | ||
| Morphology | Clymene dolphins range overlaps significantly with Long-snouted spinner dolphins and they can easily be confused. However Clymene dolphins are slightly more robust than Long-snouted spinner dolphins, have less triangular dorsal fins and shorter beaks. They too have a three toned colour pattern, but it is a lot more distinct. The dark grey or black cape comes down just behind the dorsal fin and almost touches the white underside, whilst the flanks and tail stock are pale grey. Their beaks have black tips and the lower jaw is usually white. A dark line on the top of the beak may give the appearance of the dolphin having a moustache! They have a pale stripe leading from the beak to the blowhole and dark flecks of colour in the paler areas of skin. Their flippers are usually dark and slim and a grey stripe links the flipper to the eye. The Clymene dolphin has between 39 and 49 teeth in each upper row and between 38 and 47 in each lower row of teeth. Newborns are about 80cm long and adults are between 1.7 and 2 metres and weigh between 50kg and 90kg. Their diet includes fish, squid and octopus. | ||
| Threats | Primary threats include incidental entanglement in fishing nets and directed hunts for meat for human consumption. | ||
| Status | No abundance estimate is available for this species however population levels are thought to be low. | ||
| Conservation Activities | CMS status: “not listed”. IUCN – Data Deficient | ||
