Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
CommonDelphinidaeHarmless
ID points
- An hourglass patch of cream and pale grey on the flank
- Slender snout sharply set off from the forehead
- Often travels in fast leaping herds of several hundred
Basics
- Family
- Delphinidae
- Length
- 1.7–2.4 m
- Depth
- 0-280 m
- Regions
- Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Open ocean
- Distribution
- Warm waters worldwide
- Habitat
- Open ocean, warm seas
- Diet
- Small schooling fish
Easily confused with
Bottlenose DolphinShort thick bottle-shaped snout, with a crease where it meets the forehead
Chinese White DolphinAdults pinkish white, calves dark grey, paling with age
OrcaSharply black and white, with a white oval patch behind the eyeFun fact
The most numerous cetacean in the world. It loves riding the bow wave of a moving boat and playing around people, which makes it the dolphin you are most likely to meet.