A rare striped dolphin has been found washed up on a Pembrokeshire beach.

The dead cetacean was discovered on Newgale Beach on Monday morning. The discovery was reported to Cliff Benson of Goodwick based Sea Trust, who passed the information on to Welsh strandings coordinator Rod Penrose.

At dusk on Monday Mr Penrose bought the dolphin to Goodwick's Ocean Lab. The animal was not a common dolphin, as first suspected, but a striped dolphin, which is very rare off the coast of Pembrokeshire.

Striped dolphins are usually found in temperate or tropical waters and move in large groups of several hundred animals. They are similar in shape and size to common dolphins but distinguished by a distinct colour pattern and three grey stripes on the body.

"I have spent literally thousands of hours recording filming and photographing dolphins but never seen a live striped dolphin in our waters," said Cliff.

"Strangely we do get two or three dead ones stranded each year which is not what we would expect given the fact we don't see live ones."

Cliff said the dolphin looked fit and healthy, with some damage to its flipper probably caused by a dog or some other scavenger earlier in the day.

A post mortem will be carried out which may provide more insight into the cause of death.

Any dead cetaceans can be reported to Rod Penrose on 0800 6520333. Rod is also the turtle recorder for the area.

"If you can't get hold of Rod feel free to contact us at the Ocean Lab on 01348 874737," said Cliff "and we will get through to him."