Spinner Dolphin
Stenella longirostris
Sighting evidence at Hammerhead Channel, Mirissa
Photo: martinmoscovich · CC BY-NC
Large pods of spinner dolphins use the channel as a resting corridor between offshore feeding grounds and sheltered bay anchorages, often numbering in the hundreds during peak aggregations at dawn. In the water they are intensely curious, spiralling around snorkellers and divers in tight formations and producing a constant chatter of clicks and whistles audible from 50 metres away. Their presence at the surface is one of the most reliable indicators that larger predators are also active beneath the surface.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Spinner Dolphin is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.