American Samoa Mammal
Fraser's Dolphin (common name) Lagenodelphis hosei (scientific name) Overview Charles Hose, a British zoologist and colonial administrator, was the first person to take notice of Fraser’s dolphin. He found a skull on the beach in Sarawak, Borneo in 1895, which he gave to the British Museum. No one else took note of the skull until 1956, when Francis Fraser studied the skull and found it similar to Lagenorhynchus and Delphinus, but distinct from both. The dolphin’s scientific name honors Hose, while its common name honors Fraser. Fraser’s dolphin prefers deep tropical waters and is found around the world, but is especially common in the Pacific Ocean, including in the waters around American Samoa.   Close-up STATUS Unofficial ALSO KNOWN AS Sarawak Dolphin, short-snouted whitebelly dolphin PHYSICAL DETAILS Fraser’s dolphin has a sturdy body with a small but well-defined beak, which is usually deep gray at the tip. The dolphin’s triangular dorsal fin is also smaller than in many other species, and sits halfway down its back. Its flippers and flukes are also noticeably smaller. Another distinguishing feature of the Fraser's dolphin is a clear black or gray horizontal stripe that runs along its body. Above the stripe, these dolphins are bluish or brownish gray, while below the stripe they are usually white or slightly pinkish. Color changes with age. Young dolphins don’t have very distinct colors or patterns. There is also some variation in color and pattern between individual dolphins.    Males Females Size length 8’ 10" (2.7 m) length 8’ 8" (2.64 m) Weight average 460 lb (210 kg) average 350 lb (160 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 18 years HABITAT Warm ocean waters in temperate, subtropical, and tropical areas, normally below 3,300 feet (1000 m). Range: Deep, warm waters from 30° South to 30° North, worldwide. Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC). Fraser's dolphins are sometimes accidentally caught in driftnets, trap nets, and gillnets used by fisheries to catch other ocean fish. BEHAVIOR Fraser's dolphins prefer to swim in groups and are difficult to separate from their schools. Most groups consist of about 10 to 100 dolphins, but Fraser’s dolphins will sometimes swim in much larger groups of up to 1,000. Occasionally they swim with whales as part of their group, especially false killer whales, melon-headed whales, and short-finned pilot whales. Risso's dolphins may also join Fraser’s dolphin groups. As Fraser’s dolphins swim, they usually create a turbulent wake because of their strong, splashy strokes. Groups sometimes swim in a long line. Female Fraser’s dolphins start breeding when they are between five and eight years old, and males when they are seven to 10. Single calves are born after 10 to 12.5 months. Top land speed recorded: 35 mph (56 kph) DIET The species feeds on pelagic fish, squid, and shrimp found some distance below the surface of the water (200–500 metres). Virtually no sunlight penetrates this depth, so feeding is carried out using echolocation alone. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Biennial Birthing period: Year-round Average litter size: 1 calf Size at birth: 42 lb (20 kg) TRIVIA Fraser’s dolphins aren’t very distinctive-looking and can easily be mistaken for striped dolphins, which share the same habitat. Though Fraser's dolphins are fairly common, they have not been studied much, partly because they are wary of boats. These dolphins prefer deep waters, but they sometimes appear near coastlines if the continental shelf is narrow. Fraser's dolphins occasionally get stranded outside their usual range and have been seen off the coasts of southern Australia, France, and Scotland.
	Click to enlarge an image Pod of Fraser Dolphins Fraser Dolphin Close-Up CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Family: Delphinidae Genus: Lagenodelphis Species: L. hosei
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press