Common dolphin

Often seen riding the bow waves of boats or performing acrobatic leaps out of the water

Ed Dunens


Common dolphin

EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

Often seen riding the bow waves of boats or performing acrobatic leaps out of the water

Population 6 Million

One of the most well-known and widely distributed marine mammals. Common dolphins have a sleek, streamlined body that is ideal for swift swimming. Their coloration is distinctive, featuring a beautiful pattern of dark gray or black on their backs, white on their bellies, and a unique hourglass or crisscross pattern of light gray or yellow on their sides.

These dolphins inhabit both temperate and tropical oceans, with a preference for coastal waters and areas with abundant fish. They are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and many other regions. Common dolphins are highly adaptable and can live in a variety of marine environments, from shallow coastal areas to deeper offshore waters.

Common dolphins are social animals, living in groups called pods. These pods can range in size from just a few individuals to several hundred. Occasionally, superpods consisting of thousands of dolphins can be observed, especially in areas with plentiful food. Within these pods, dolphins communicate using a complex system of clicks, whistles, and body language, enabling them to coordinate hunting, navigate, and socialize.

Their diet mainly consists of small fish and squid. They are skilled hunters, often working together to herd fish into tight groups, making them easier to catch. Common dolphins employ various hunting techniques, including chasing fish toward the surface or using their echolocation abilities to locate prey in murky waters. Their cooperative hunting strategies highlight their intelligence and strong social bonds.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Atlantic Ocean
2020
Indian ocean
2020
Pacific ocean
2020
Black Sea
2020
Caribbean Sea
2020
Mediterranean Sea
2020
Japan Sea
2020
Okhotsk Sea
2020
Gulf of Mexico
2020
Albania
2020
Presence Uncertain, Vagrant
Algeria
2020
Angola
2020
Presence Uncertain
Anguilla
2020
Presence Uncertain
Antigua & Barbuda
2020
Presence Uncertain
Argentina
2020
Aruba
2020
Presence Uncertain
Australia
2020
Bahamas
2020
Presence Uncertain
Bahrain
2020
Bangladesh
2020
Belgium
2020
Belize
2020
Presence Uncertain
Benin
2020
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
2020
Presence Uncertain
Bosnia And Herz.
2020
Presence Uncertain, Vagrant
Brazil
2020
British Virgin Is.
2020
Bulgaria
2020
Cambodia
2020
Cameroon
2020
Presence Uncertain
Canada
2020
Cape Verde
2020
Presence Uncertain
Cayman Islands
2020
Presence Uncertain
Chile
2020
China
2020
Colombia
2020
Congo-Brazzaville
2020
Costa Rica
2020
Croatia
2020
Presence Uncertain
Cuba
2020
Presence Uncertain
Curaçao
2020
Presence Uncertain
Cyprus
2020
Presence Uncertain
Côte D’ivoire
2020
Presence Uncertain
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
2020
Presence Uncertain
Denmark
2020
Djibouti
2020
Dominica
2020
Presence Uncertain
Dominican Republic
2020
Presence Uncertain
Ecuador
2020
Egypt
2020
Presence Uncertain
El Salvador
2020
Equatorial Guinea
2020
Eritrea
2020
France
2020
French Guiana
2020
Presence Uncertain
Gabon
2020
Gambia
2020
Georgia
2020
Germany
2020
Ghana
2020
Presence Uncertain
Gibraltar
2020
Greece
2020
Greenland
2020
Vagrant
Grenada
2020
Guadeloupe
2020
Presence Uncertain
Guatemala
2020
Guinea-Bissau
2020
Guinea
2020
Guyana
2020
Haiti
2020
Presence Uncertain
Honduras
2020
Hong Kong
2020
Iceland
2020
Vagrant
India
2020
Indonesia
2020
Iran
2020
Iraq
2020
Ireland
2020
Israel
2020
Italy
2020
Jamaica
2020
Presence Uncertain
Japan
2020
Kenya
2020
Presence Uncertain
Korea
2020
Kuwait
2020
Lebanon
2020
Presence Uncertain
Liberia
2020
Presence Uncertain
Libya
2020
Madagascar
2020
Malaysia
2020
Malta
2020
Martinique
2020
Presence Uncertain
Mauritania
2020
Mexico
2020
Monaco
2020
Presence Uncertain
Montenegro
2020
Presence Uncertain
Montserrat
2020
Presence Uncertain
Morocco
2020
Mozambique
2020
Myanmar
2020
Namibia
2020
Netherlands
2020
New Caledonia
2020
New Zealand
2020
Nicaragua
2020
Nigeria
2020
North Korea
2020
Norway
2020
Oman
2020
Pakistan
2020
Panama
2020
Peru
2020
Poland
2020
Portugal
2020
Puerto Rico
2020
Qatar
2020
Romania
2020
Russia
2020
Saint Lucia
2020
Presence Uncertain
Saint Martin
2020
Presence Uncertain: French Part
Saint Vincent
2020
Presence Uncertain
Saudi Arabia
2020
Senegal
2020
Sierra Leone
2020
Presence Uncertain
Singapore
2020
Sint Maarten
2020
Presence Uncertain: Dutch Part
Slovenia
2020
Presence Uncertain
Solomon Islands
2020
Presence Uncertain
Somalia
2020
South Africa
2020
Spain
2020
Sri Lanka
2020
St. Kitts & Nevis
2020
Presence Uncertain
Sudan
2020
Suriname
2020
Syria
2020
Presence Uncertain
São Tomé & Príncipe
2020
Presence Uncertain
Taiwan
2020
Tanzania
2020
Thailand
2020
Togo
2020
Trinidad & Tobago
2020
Presence Uncertain
Tunisia
2020
Turkey
2020
UAE
2020
US Virgin Islands
2020
Ukraine
2020
United Kingdom
2020
United States
2020
Uruguay
2020
Venezuela
2020
Vietnam
2020
Yemen
2020

Anything we've missed?

Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!

Suggest an edit

Get to know me

Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Pod

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No