| Generously provided by the American Cetacean
Society Fact Sheet  
COMMON DOLPHIN Delphinus delphis (short-beaked) & |
| CLASS: | Mammalia |
 |
| ORDER: | Cetacea | |
| SUBORDER: | Odontoceti | |
| FAMILY: | Delphinidae | |
| GENUS: | Delphinus | |
| SPECIES: | delphis (short-beaked) & capensis (long-beaked) |
| The common dolphin throughout history has often been recorded in art and literature. It was recently proposed that two forms of this species, the short- and long-beaked common dolphin, represent two distinct species. |
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Common
dolphins are colorful, with a complex crisscross or hourglass color pattern on the side; the long-beaked common
dolphin being more muted in color. When looking at the profile of the two common dolphin species, the
short-beaked common dolphin has a more rounded melon that meets the beak at a sharp
angle, as compared to the long-beaked common dolphin that has a flatter melon that meets the beak at a more
gradual angle.
COLOR: Color patterns on the
common dolphin are the most elaborate of any cetacean. The back is dark
gray-to-black from the top of the head to the tail dipping to a V on the sides below the dorsal fin. The flanks are light gray
behind the dorsal fin and yellowish-tan forward
of the dorsal fin, forming an hourglass
pattern. Its belly is white. There are large dark circles around the eyes connected by a dark line that
runs across the head behind the beak and a black stripe runs from the jaw to the flippers.
 surface characteristics |
FINS AND FLUKE: The
dorsal fin is triangular-to-falcate (curved). It is pointed and
located near the middle of the back and is black-to-light gray in color with a black border. The flippers are long and thin and
slightly curved or pointed depending on geographical location. Flukes are thin and pointed at the tips
with a slight notch in the center.
Length and Weight: Common
dolphins can reach lengths of 7.5 - 8.5 feet (2.3-2.6 m) and weigh as much as 297 lb. (135 kg). The
short-beaked common dolphin is relatively heavier, and has a larger dorsal fin and flippers than the long-beaked common
dolphin.
Feeding: The common dolphin
feeds on squid and small schooling fish. In some parts of the world, common dolphins feed at night on the deep
scattering layer, which moves towards the water's surface during that time. Common dolphins have been seen
working together to herd fish into tight balls. Like many other dolphin species, the common dolphin will
sometimes take advantage of human fishing activities (such as trawling), feeding on fish escaping from the nets
or discarded by the fishermen.
Mating and Breeding: Sexual
maturity is reached at 3 to 4 years of age or when they reach 6 to 7 feet in length (1.8 to 2.1 m). Calves are
30 to 34 inches at birth (76 to 86 cm ); gestation period is 10 to 11 months.
 |
| range map |
Distribution and Migration: The
common dolphin is found in all tropical and warm-temperate waters. The long-beaked common dolphin is found more
in coastal waters; the short-beaked common dolphin is found in offshore waters and is the species that occurs
frequently in the eastern tropical Pacific. Both long-beaked and short-beaked common dolphins occur in the
Southern California Bight.
Natural History: Common dolphins
are often found in large herds of hundreds or even thousands. They are extremely active, fast moving, and
engage in spectacular aerial behavior. They are noted for riding bow and stern waves of boats, often changing
course to bow ride the pressure waves of fast-moving vessels and even large whales. Common dolphins can be
frequently seen in association with other marine mammal species.
Status: Traditionally, hundreds
of thousands of common dolphins have been taken incidentally, along with spinner and pantropical spotted dolphins, in purse
seine nets used during tuna fishing operations in the eastern tropical Pacific although these numbers may
be improving. Common dolphins also may be caught accidentally in other fishing gear, such as midwater
trawls. Turkish and Russian fishermen used to catch large numbers of common dolphins in the Black Sea for
meat (to be used for fish meal) and oil. The fishery stopped after the common dolphin numbers became
severely depleted (and still is); there are several reports suggesting that the Turkish fishery may have
resumed. Many common dolphins are taken in a Japanese small cetacean fishery and directly caught in the
Mediterranean. Some common dolphins may be taken in Peru for human consumption.
Bibliography:
- Evans, W.E. 1994. Common dolphin, white-bellied porpoise Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758. Pages 191-224 in Handbook of Marine Mammals, vol. 5: The first book of dolphins (S.H. Ridgway and R. Harrison, eds.). San Diego: Academic Press.
- Heyning, J.E. and W.F. Perrin. 1994. Evidence for two species of common dolphins (Genus Delphinus) from the eastern North Pacific. Contributions in Science, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, No. 442.
- Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood, and M.A. Webber. 1993. Marine Mammals of the World. FAO Species Identification Guide. Rome: FAO.
- Klinowska, M. 1991. Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN (World Conservation Union).
- Leatherwood, S. and R. Reeves. 1983. Whales and Dolphins. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books.
Acknowledgements:
- We greatly appreciate the knowledge and assistance of Dagmar Fertl, Biologist, Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of Interior.
- Illustrations courtesy Uko Gorter, copyright © 2002, 2004 all rights reserved.
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