One dolphin moves in a dorsal fin up position making forward progress in a single general direction. Direction chenges can occur, but usually are not erratic or rapid. Body is generally extended along the long axis and swim speed is relatively stable.
Reference
Miles JA & Herzing DL (2003). Underwater analysis of the behavioural development of free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) calves (birth to 4 years of age). Aquatic Mammals, 29.3, 363-377.
Forward progress with the belly upward.
Reference
Muller M, Boutiere H, Weaver A & Candelon N (1998). Ethogram of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with special reference to solitary and sociable dolphins. English Translation of Vie Milieu, 48.2, 89-104.
Forward progress in a 90-degree rotation from the dorsal position, orienting one pectoral fin upward and the other downward.
Reference
Muller, M., Boutiere, H., Weaver, A. & Candelon, N. (1998). Ethogram of the bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) whit special reference to solitary and sociable dolphins. English Translation of Vie Milieu, 48.2, 89-104
Dolphins showed frequent changes in heading that sometimes appeared as a transition behaviour between other behavioural states.
Reference
Constantine R., Brunton H. D. & Dennis T. (2004) Dolphin-watching tour boats change bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behaviour. Biological Conservation, 117, 299-307.
Dolphin hangs/suspends itself vertically with its head up or down in mid-water column.
Reference
Miles J. A. & Herzing D. L. (2003) Underwater analysis of the behavioural development of free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) calves (birth to 4 years of age). Aquatic Mammals, 29.3, 363-377.
Scanning perpendicular/horizontal relative to bottom.
Reference
Herzing D.L. (1995) Ethogram- Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis. Working paper for the Behavioural Ethogram Workshop, 9th European Cetacean Society Annual Conference, Lugano, Switzerland, February 9-11 1995.
They often rub their bodies against an object, floor, the bottom, the side of the basin. When swimming on the side, belly in front of the wall, they keep a contact of their flippers with the wall.
Reference
Sylvestre J.P. (1985) Some observations on the behavior of two Orinco Dolphins (Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana), (Pilleri and Gihr 1977 ), in captivity, at Duisburg Zoo Aquatic Mammals, 11.2, 58-65.
Suddenly stops dead in water after swimming forward.
Reference
Ostman J.S.O. & Folkens P.A. (1996) A vocabulary to describe cetacean behavior. University of California, Santa Cruz pp.26.