Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Aethalodelphis obliquidens
Birds & Mammals
Open marine waters and channels
iNaturalist record: Jul 2021
Meet this species
Pacific white-sided dolphins move through the channels and coastal waters of the northeastern Pacific, sometimes in energetic social groups. The Greene Point record extends the field guide beyond creek, forest and nearshore habitat into the larger marine system connected to the estuary.
Pacific white-sided dolphin travelling through marine waters near Greene Point.
What to look for:
Look for a streamlined dolphin with a dark back, pale belly and sweeping light grey markings along the sides. A strongly curved dorsal fin is prominent when the animal surfaces. Groups may be highly active, travelling quickly and repeatedly breaking the surface.
Why It Matters Here:
From lichens hanging in the forest to dolphins travelling through nearby channels, the observation record spans an extraordinary ecological gradient. This species makes the final watershed-to-ocean connection impossible to miss.
Field Record
Documented at Greene Point through field observations and photographs recorded on iNaturalist.