COMMON DOLPHIN

Delphinus delphis

Common dolphins are strikingly marked with a distinct yellow and grey hourglass pattern along their sides. They are divided into two distinct species: long-beaked (Delphinus capensis) and short-beaked (Delphinus delphis).

In the Azores, short-beaked common dolphins are seen year-round (they are in fact our most encountered cetacean species). They are often more brightly coloured than the long-beaked variety, and they have a greater range throughout most temperate and tropical waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Common dolphins typically travel in large social groups which sometimes include up to thousands of individuals. They often break the surface at high speed and frequently bowride in front of boats.

Video Footage

Species Details

Length:

Male: 2.7 m
Female: 2.6 m
Calf: 0.8 – 1 m

Weight:

Male: 200 kg

Species Specs:

Global population: c.3,000,000 (population trend unknown)
Status: Least Concern
Diet: Small schooling fish, squid
Teeth: 160 – 220
Longevity: 25 – 30 years
Breeding age: 3 – 4 years
Gestation: 10 – 11 months
Nursing: 12 months

In other languages:

Portuguese: Golfinho-comum
Spanish: Delfín Común
French: Dauphin Commun
Italian: Delfino comune, tombarello
German: Gemeiner Delfin
Dutch: Gewone dolfijn
Swedish: Sadeldelfin, springare, vanlig delfin
Norwegian: Vanlig delfin, gulflankedelfin
Danish: Almindelig delfin
Finnish: Tavallinen delfiini
Polish: Delfin pospolity
Russian: Byelobochka

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