Hourglass Dolphin Pictures

The hourglass dolphin, Lagenorynchus cruciger, is a small, stocky, black and white dolphin that inhabits the Southern Ocean and which has been seen as far north as Chile, Argentina and New Zealand. It is rarely seen, but can be readily identified by the vaguely hourglass shaped stripe it has on each side of its body. The pattern is actually a patch of white on the side of the head and another on the side of the tail, connected by a narrow band of white, thus the "hourglass" name. Because of their distinctive black and white patterns, they sometimes reminded sailors of Holstein cows and were called "sea cows," a name which is more often used today to describe manatees and dugongs (sirenia).

Hourglass dolphins grow to as large as 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) and weigh 74-94 kg (163-207 lbs). They feed on fish, squid and crustaceans. They may be seen alone or in pods of 1-100 individuals, with 5-7 being the most common pod sizes observed. They are the only small dolphin found south of the Antarctic Convergence, a fact which helps distinguish them from dusky dolphins or Peale's dolphins, to which they bear a passing resemblance. The IUCN Red List lists them as Least Concern. Population estimates are uncertain, but there are presumed to be fewer than 140,000 in existence.

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Picture of an hourglass dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, near South Georgia Island, South Atlantic

Picture #: 009286

Stock photo of hourglass dolphins, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, illustration

Picture #: 010645

Image of hourglass dolphins, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, near South Georgia Island, South Atlantic

Picture #: 009287

Photo of an hourglass dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, illustration

Picture #: 010828

Picture of an hourglass dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, leaping at sunset, Drake Passage, South America

Picture #: 010854

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