SPINNER DOLPHINS OF KAUA'I

Spinner Dolphin Pictures, Behaviors and Information
(provided by the Wild Dolphin Foundation)

There are many species of dolphins (nai'a) swimming in the tepid waters of Hawaii, the most common are the Hawaiian spinner, spotted (kiko), bottlenose and roughtooth dolphins. Other often seen members of the dolphin family - although termed as whales (kohola)- are pilot and false killer whales. Dolphins in Hawaii are commonly termed as "porpoise" by local folks, especially fishermen, who use the word "dolphin" when referring to the dolphin fish, or mahi mahi.

So called for their high, spinning leaps, spinner dolphins are known as playful, eager bow-riders throughout much of their range. But in the eastern tropical Pacific, where tuna fishermen have killed millions of spinners since 1959, the dolphins no longer approach ships. In Hawaii, they not only approach ships, but could be termed the oceanic "Ambassadors of Aloha" (aloha - recognition of the god of life within another, a combination of joy, harmony, gentleness, compassion, humility, generosity and patience). There is some belief that Native Hawaiians (Kanaka Maoli) deemed porpoise to be a oceanic tribe with equal rights as human villagers. They worked cooperatively with porpoise to fish then and do to this day.

This may still ring true today as modern fisher-people enlist the dolphins help in finding prime food fish. Probably since the islands have formed, the Hawaiian spinner dolphins have come into nearshore daytime habitats along the west coast of Oahu. We have traced it back to 800 years, hard to go back further given that Hawaiian was not a written language (oral history) until post western contact.

In the near-coastal waters of Kaua'i, spinner dolphins are seen on an almost daily basis in near shore waters. Hawaiian Spinner dolphins are shaped and colored somewhat differently from other spinner dolphins.

Spins

The Spinner dolphins are famous for their fantastic jumps high out of the water. They can leap into the air and make as many as 7 complete spins before diving back into the ocean again! Few dolphins are known to leap as high as the Spinner and except for the Clymene dolphin, no others can spin.

Head-Over-Tail

This aerial behavior is probably the most energetic. While the spin is more like a top, this leap is a series of mid-air somersaults.

Head Slaps

This very young spinner has already learned a way to get mom's attention. Repeated head slaps send an acoustical message. Notice the pinkish underside, normally white, this could mean excitement or the product of vigorous slapping!

Tail or Peduncle Slaps

Tail or peduncle slaps are often seen before a change in the pods behavior. Most often, immediately after we see this behavior, the pod will change its traveling direction. Click here to view a tail slap video and how it looks from underwater. The dolphin is excited about his "play toy!"

Nose-Outs

Nose-out behaviour is most often seen before going into a rest mode, or when they seem to have interest in us. These, although still classified as aerial behaviors are the least energy taxing.

Fluke-up Dive

Dives with the tail (flukes) raised in the air seem to signal deep dives. This a borderline aerial behavior - as it still happens above the water line, but is not very active.

Playing Behavior

Spinners often make "play-toys" of objects in their environment. In our area, the tradewinds blow lightweight plastic grocery bags into the ocean. The dolphins drape these over their fins and pass them back and forth.

Echelon Swimming

Newborn calves can be seen swimming near their mothers head for about a week before they swim nearer to her dorsal fin. This is termed as echelon swimming. Dolphins carry their young inside their womb and gestation is about 12 months for a bottlenose. The baby emerges tail first, and will suckle from its mother for up to 4 years.

Breathing

Oceanic dolphins have evolved a method of breathing without surfacing from the water. They blow a bubble when near the water surface and then quickly draw breath in when the bubble forms a bridge between the blowhole and the air, through the water.

Dolphins breathe through their blowhole located at the top of their head. A dolphin may empty and refill its lungs in less than a fifth of second. As the dolphin breathes the air leaves the blowhole at speeds of over 100 mph. To sleep, a dolphin must shut down only half of its brain, as its breathing is under voluntary control.

Social Behavior

Spinner dolphin's pectoral flippers are used to steer them through the water, and they also use them to stroke one another, increasing the social bond between them. Dolphin "friends" may swim along face to face touching flippers. Dolphins that appear to be closely bonded may swim in synchrony, twisting, turning and swimming in perfect harmony together.

Whistles

Spinner Dolphins can be very noisy under and above water, click on these links for underwater video and sound of spinner dolphins vocalizing and a signature whistle. Click here to hear a dolphin click train.