Do you know how to ID dolphins underwater? Here are some tips for discerning between the common bottlenose dolphin and the Atlantic spotted dolphin.

Location

Atlantic spotted dolphins are limited to the Atlantic and Caribbean, from the west coast of Africa to the Yucatan. They venture from the northeastern United States to the northern border of South Africa. If you see a dolphin in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Great Britain or south of Africa, it’s probably not an Atlantic spotted dolphin.

Size

The easiest way to spot a bottlenose dolphin is its size. Adult bottlenose dolphins are much larger than Atlantic spotted dolphins, ranging from 7 to 13 feet. Atlantic spotted dolphins max out around 6 or 7 feet.

Spots

Atlantic spotted dolphins generally have more spots, while bottlenose dolphins’ spots are confined to their belly, if they appear at all. But don’t rely on this — both have been seen without spots.

Beak

The bottlenose dolphin, has a short, chunky beak, while the spotted dolphin has a longer beak.