#spotted dolphin

Dolphins in the Red Sea by 27MM

The Atlantic spotted dolphin - Stenella frontalis

This is without a doubt my favourite illustration for this project so far. I love Atlantic spotted dolphins, with their sociable personality, elegant faces and beautiful colouration - and these in particular. You see, while the Common bottlenose dolphin’s coastal and oceanic populations are best known, there’s more dolphins with a similar division amongst their ranks. Spotted dolphins (both the Atlantic and Pantropical) have offshore and coastal populations as well, which vary in colour. 

In case of the Atlantic, coastal animals - like those found in The Bahamas - are most heavily spotted. Adults can gain so many spots over the years that in the end, their colour pattern is reversed. White above, black below. Illustrated however, is an oceanic-type Atlantic spotted dolphin; and they hold on to their stark white bellies. The amount of spots varies between individuals, some are quite heavily spotted, others snowy white below the sides - but never is the belly covered. The white spots are also finer than those in coastal animals, and while I painted my animal with quite a lot, some have no more than a fine dusting of white.

Exquisitely beautiful animals if you ask me, and I am immensely happy that the spotting finally turned out to my liking (painting spots is harder than it seems).

Just two little sketches from my - then new - sketchbook. Sadly haven’t drawn much in it since! It’s a nice little booklet. They’re three years old by now (oof), but I do quite like the killer whale one. The other one is two Atlantic-spotted dolphins ‘holding pectoral fins’, which is an adorable thing some species sometimes do.

A posse of proper ‘phins
And another set of illustrations from last year. This time the “proper” dolphins - not too small, a regular dorsal fin, a good beak. Only the Risso’s is a bit out of line with their cute potheads but otherwise he was all alone. I had lots of fun with all of these. Spinners and Pantropcal spotted dolphin are a delight to draw always. This Pantropical spotted is from the Indian ocean, which tend to have fine black spots and very few white spots. The rough-toothed dolphin gave me some trouble - they’ve such odd proportions they’re hard to really nail down. I still don’t think he fully looks right, but that’s for a different illustration.

The common dolphins on top are very interesting to me: a good example of the diversity found within the single species of Delphinus delphis. Both are forms living around Southern Africa. The “longer beaked” form is larger, more elegant, and has gorgeous clear markings. They live off the Southeast coast, relatively close to shore. The “shorter beaked” form lives more to the west, in offshore waters. They are stouter and often with slightly vaguer markings. One day I’d love to see a study done on all the African forms of short-beaked common dolphins, they are so fascinating. If you move further up the west coast, around Angola, you’ll find a really strange form which is super dark and oddly proportioned. Wonder what’s up with those.

The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin is also an oddball, and a first for me. Love their cute faces and unique body shape. Not just the hump-back but also that strongly keeled peduncle. I hope you’ll enjoy them too!