Stenella
frontalis comes from the Genus Stenella (meaning
"narrow," as stated in on the classification
page). Atlantic spotted dolphins are related to bottlenose
dolphins, killer whales, spinner dolphins, and even more species of
dolphins. The phylogenetic tree, located below, shows the
morphological differences between the Atlantic spotted dolphin and
other dolphin/whale species. Stenella frontalis is
located in the genus with spinner dolphins and striped dolphins.
They are members of the toothed-whale order and the dolphin/killer
whale family. Toothed-whales broke away from the baleen whales
and the baleen teeth evolved into actual teeth. Then, this
species of dolphin evolved a dorsal fin, a spotted belly, and their
teeth became more refined (unlike the teeth of those dolphins in the
genus Steno).
Let's take a closer look at the Family
Delphinidae:
