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The Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin

A fun mammal to watch in the Hawaiian waters is the Hawaiian spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). It is not endangered or endemic to Hawai'i. The Hawaiian spinner dolphin is so called because when it jumps out of the water it spins round and round. No wonder it is among the most acrobatic of marine mammals.It feeds on a wide variety of small fish and squid. Spinner dolphins are more active toward dusk as they come together to leave their protected rest areas and head for the open sea in search of food.

The spinner dolphin's forehead is called a melon. The fins on its sides are its pectoral fins and the fin on its top is its dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is very important because it keeps the dolphin from turning upside down. The fins on its sides are its pectoral fins. The fluke, its fin at its tail, goes up and down. The spinner dolphin also does a breach, which whales do a lot. It comes completely out of the water and falls down making a huge splash.