Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens • The Acrobats of the Strait
These energetic and colorful dolphins are often encountered traveling in large, active pods throughout the waters around Telegraph Cove. Known for their playful nature and spectacular acrobatics, they bring joy to every wildlife watching experience.
Appearance
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins have striking black, white, and grey markings that make them unmistakable. Their distinctive light grey stripes along their sides are sometimes referred to as “suspenders.”
They have a short, rounded beak (rostrum) and a tall, sharply hooked dorsal fin. Their back is dark grey to black, with light grey sides and a white belly.
Adults typically reach 2.1-2.4 meters in length and weigh between 85-150 kg. Males are slightly larger than females. Their streamlined bodies make them incredibly agile swimmers.
Social Behavior
They are highly gregarious animals, often traveling in pods ranging from dozens to hundreds of individuals. These pods are fluid, with dolphins frequently joining and leaving different groups.
Occasionally, “superpods” numbering in the thousands can be observed offshore. These massive aggregations typically occur when multiple pods converge on abundant food sources.
They often associate with other marine mammals, including Dall's porpoises, sea lions, and various whale species. They've been observed riding the bow waves created by large whales.
Playfulness & Acrobatics
Acrobatic Displays
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins are renowned for their spectacular aerial displays. They frequently perform complete somersaults, spins, and flips, sometimes reaching heights of 6 meters above the water.
These acrobatics aren't just for show - they serve multiple purposes including communication, hunting coordination, parasite removal, and possibly pure enjoyment.
Bow-Riding Behavior
They frequently engage in “bow-riding,” swimming in the pressure wave created by the front of moving boats. This energy-efficient form of travel allows them to surf alongside vessels for extended periods.
They also ride the bow waves of large whales and have been observed surfing ocean swells, demonstrating their playful nature and intelligence.
Diet & Hunting
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins are opportunistic feeders with a varied diet. They primarily feed on small schooling fish such as herring, anchovies, sardines, and hake. They also consume squid and occasionally small crustaceans.
They are cooperative hunters, working together to herd schools of fish into tight balls before taking turns feeding. This coordinated hunting strategy is highly effective and demonstrates their intelligence and social cooperation.
Most feeding occurs at night when their prey migrates closer to the surface. They use echolocation to locate prey in darkness, producing clicks that bounce off objects and return as echoes, creating a detailed acoustic image of their surroundings.
Communication & Intelligence
They communicate through a complex array of clicks, whistles, and burst-pulse sounds. Each dolphin has a unique signature whistle, similar to a name, which develops early in life and remains stable.
Body language plays a crucial role in their communication, with leaps, splashes, and synchronized swimming conveying different messages to pod members.
Their large brains relative to body size and complex social behaviors indicate high intelligence. They demonstrate self-awareness, problem-solving abilities, and cultural transmission of behaviors.
Young dolphins learn behaviors by observing and mimicking adults, suggesting cultural learning similar to that seen in great apes and humans.
Fascinating Facts
They can swim at speeds up to 40 km/h and dive to depths of over 200 meters.
Their teeth are small and sharp, numbering 23-36 on each side of both jaws.
They can live 40+ years in the wild, with females typically living longer than males.
Calves are born after a 12-month gestation and stay with their mothers for up to 18 months.
They sleep with one half of their brain at a time, allowing them to surface and breathe.
Their range extends from the Gulf of Alaska to the Gulf of California.
Habitat & Distribution
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins inhabit the temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean. They prefer deep, offshore waters but frequently come into coastal areas, particularly where submarine canyons or steep drop-offs bring deep water close to shore.
Around Telegraph Cove, they are year-round residents, though their numbers and locations vary seasonally based on prey availability. They prefer water temperatures between 7-18°C.
They are highly mobile, with some groups traveling over 100 km in a single day while following prey or exploring their range. Their presence often indicates healthy marine ecosystems with abundant prey.
Best Viewing Times
Year-round
While present throughout the year, encounters are most frequent from May through October. Calm sea conditions increase the likelihood of spotting their acrobatic displays.