One of the most dazzling and energetic marine mammals found in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Once widespread across the entire region, it is now much rarer, but when spotted, it’s a breathtaking sight. This dolphin is famous for its colorful hourglass pattern—a yellow or golden patch on its sides that fades into gray and white, making it look like a living piece of art gliding through the water. Smaller and slimmer than bottlenose dolphins, but what they lack in size they make up for in speed and agility. They can leap high above the waves, ride boat wakes, and even twist mid-air, showing off their athleticism in ways that make them seem like true performers of the sea.

While some dolphin species travel in small pods, Mediterranean common dolphins often gather in large, lively groups, sometimes numbering over a hundred individuals. These pods work together when hunting schools of fish, using teamwork to herd prey into tight balls before diving in to feed. Their diet includes anchovies, sardines, squid, and other small fish, making them important predators in the Mediterranean food web. Their fast swimming—reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) —and cooperative hunting make them some of the ocean’s most efficient hunters.

Despite their playful and energetic image, Mediterranean common dolphins face serious challenges. Once abundant, their numbers have declined sharply in many areas of the Mediterranean due to overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation. Industrial fishing has reduced the populations of sardines and anchovies they depend on, while plastic pollution and chemical waste affect their health. This has earned them a place on the list of endangered animals in the region. Their decline is especially striking because common dolphins are still plentiful in other parts of the world, making the Mediterranean population unique in its vulnerability.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Atlantic Ocean

2003

Black sea

2003

Mediterranean Sea

2003

Albania

2003

Algeria

2003

Bosnia And Herz.

2003

Croatia

2003

Cyprus

2003

Egypt

2003

France

2003

Gibraltar

2003

Greece

2003

Israel

2003

Italy

2003

Lebanon

2003

Libya

2003

Malta

2003

Monaco

2003

Montenegro

2003

Morocco

2003

Slovenia

2003

Spain

2003

Syria

2003

Tunisia

2003

Turkey

2003