Mammals · Artiodactyla · Delphinidae

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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It is recognisable by the striking hourglass pattern along its flanks. It forms pods that can number over 10,000.

Weight

80 kg – 130 kg

Size

1.8 m – 2.6 m

Lifespan

30 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Hierarchical pack

Lives in an organised hierarchical group, typical of cooperative hunters.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore Variable activity In packs Ocean Mammal

42countries 5parks 94dive sites17same family

Fun facts

It forms pods of over 10,000, among the largest social gatherings of any marine mammal.
It is recognisable by the hourglass pattern along its flanks.
It feeds on small fish, squid and octopus.
conservaciónDespite its name it has vanished from large parts of the western Mediterranean in recent decades, and is now largely confined to particular areas such as the Alborán Sea.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Temperate and tropical ocean waters worldwide, mostly well offshore
Birth weight: ~10 kg and 0.8-1 m long at birth
Size at birth: ~10 kg and 0.8-1 m at birth
Sexual maturity: Male: ~10 years | Female: ~8 years
Gestation / incubation: 10-12 months
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth, with intervals of 1-3 years

Sources consulted: NHPBS NatureWorks; British Divers Marine Life Rescue; Animal Diversity Web; NOAA Fisheries; Animalia.bio (Long-Beaked, comparative); SightMe; Whale SENSE