The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation
Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
The Common Dolphin is one of the most commonly seen cetaceans - hence its name. These toothed whales can be found around Long Island and worldwide in tropical and warm offshore waters. Common dolphins can reach a length of 5-8 feet, and can weigh between 165-300 pounds, with males being slightly larger than females. These dolphins have a dark, V-shaped saddle just below their dorsal fin on either side, and they have light gray or yellowish patches on their sides just forward of the dorsal fin. Their dorsal fin is tall and dark, often with a grayish or whitish area in the center, a dark stripe extending from the eye to the corner of the mouth, and completely white bellies. There are two recognized species of Common Dolphins: Short beaked and Long beaked, with the major morphological difference being the length of their rostrum. Common dolphins have between 80-120 small, sharply pointed teeth in each jaw, allowing them to feed on anchovies, deep sea smelt, lanternfish, and squid, among other things. These dolphins are the most gregarious of all cetaceans, and are commonly found in pods of 100-1,000 individuals. Female Common dolphins give birth to one calf each year, and their gestation period is around 11 months. These animals can live for 25-30 years, with sharks and humans being their biggest threats. Common Dolphins are protected in the U.S. under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
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