Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

Short-beaked Common dolphins at Santa Barbara.
Photograph by Cybele May. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Short-beaked Common Dolphin | Delphinus delphis photo

Short-beaked Common dolphins at Santa Barbara.
Photograph by Cybele May. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN FACTS

Description
The Short-beaked Common Dolphin is black or dark brown with white or cream underside. The flippers are the same color as the back (black or dark brown). There is a pale marking along the side that separates the dark back from white underside. This band is yellowish tan on front half of body and pale gray on the back half of the body forming an hourglass or cross-hatch pattern. The dorsal fin that is triangular. The beak is long and pointed. The jaws on each side of the beak are lined have 20 or more small sharp teeth.

Size
One of the smallest dolphins. Length 1.6m - 2.2m. Females are slightly smaller than males.

Environment
coastal waters, around reefs, open ocean

Food
small fish, squid and octopus

Breeding
Single young is born (rarely twins or triplets) after gestation of 11 to 12 months. The newborn calf is 1m long and weighs about 10kg - 14kg.

Range
throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Short-beaked Common Dolphin is usually found offshore while the Long-beaked Common Dolphin is found in coastal waters.

Classification

Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Cetacea
Family:	Delphinidae
Genus:	Delphinus
Species:	delphis
Common Name:	Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Relatives in same Genus
Long-beaked Common Dolphin (D. capensis)

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