| Main Ref. | Perrin, W.F., 1972 |
| Appearance refers to |
| specialized organs | |
| different appearance | |
| different colors | |
| remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Diagnosis | Spinner dolphins have various forms depending on their geographical locations. Commonly, these are small and slender animals that have a relatively long slender beak. It has a tripartite coloration which consists of a dark grey dorsal cape, lighter grey lateral field and a white or very light ventral field. A dark band runs from the eye to the flipper, bordered above by a thin line. It has a clearly discernible contrast of cape with the lateral field and a smooth curve on the ventral margin of cape over the eye. The ventral white field extends dorsal variably nearly to level of eye; margin speckled; genital and axillary areas confluent. It also has a high to medium contrast between flipper band and gular region wherein variable spots are visible. Its flippers are dark or speckled. In adult males the dorsal fin is falcate to triangular and has a small to medium protuberant ventral keel. |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| spines | |
| soft-rays | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| spines | |
| soft-rays |