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    Common dolphin

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

    Ed Dunens








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    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

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    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

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population 6 Million
    Honorary Patron: Prof. Adriana Vella
    Become a Patron

    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Delphinus delphis Number of subspecies: 4 Name of subspecies:

    D. d. bairdii
    D. d. delphis
    D. d. ponticus
    D. d. tropicalis

    Physical traits

    Length: 2 -3 m (6 – 8 ft) Weight: 80 – 235 kg (176 – 518 pounds) Lifespan: 20 – 25 years Gestation: 10 – 11 months Offspring: Single calf
    Habitats: Marine
    Regions: Indian ocean Africa Pacific ocean Asia Atlantic Ocean Europe North America Oceania South America
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