# Common Dolphin (*Delphinus delphis*) Common dolphins are fast swimmers with a playful nature. They live in groups called pods. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Warm and temperate seas. - **Also known as:** Hourglass Dolphin, Short-beaked Common Dolphin ![Common Dolphin](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426816/objects/4390.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Dolphin has a sleek body with a striking hourglass pattern on its sides, typically dark grey or black on top and white underneath, with a yellowish patch at the front. It features a distinct, slender snout, making it easily identifiable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Cetacea - **Family:** Delphinidae - **Genus:** Delphinus ## Interesting facts - A baby dolphin is born tail-first to help it reach the surface quickly for air! - Common Dolphins can hold their breath underwater for up to 8 minutes! - They often leap high out of the water, performing acrobatic twists! - They often swim in massive groups, sometimes numbering thousands! ## Special abilities - **Sonar Navigator:** Common Dolphins can 'see' with sound (echolocation) that helps them locate fish and navigate in dark or murky waters. - **Pod Power:** Common Dolphins have strong social bonds that help them cooperatively hunt large schools of fish and protect each other. - **Hydrodynamic Speedster:** Common Dolphins have a streamlined body shape that helps them cut through water incredibly fast to catch prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 170-240 cm - **Weight:** 70-110 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-40 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 300-330 days ## Diet & Feeding These agile swimmers primarily feast on small, schooling fish and tasty squid found in the ocean. - **Primary Foods:** sardines, anchovies, mackerel, squid, hake - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** European pilchard (*Sardina pilchardus*) — A key schooling fish prey species. - **Eats:** [European anchovy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-anchovy) (*Engraulis encrasicolus*) — Commonly hunted small fish. - **Eats:** European squid (*Loligo vulgaris*) — An important part of their varied diet. - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Occasionally preyed upon by larger marine predators. - **Eaten by:** [Great White Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark) (*Carcharodon carcharias*) — Sometimes targeted by large sharks, especially young. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not try to touch wild dolphins. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Dolphin? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Dolphin? 170-240 cm ### How much does Common Dolphin weigh? 70-110 kg ### How long does Common Dolphin live? 20-40 years ### How fast can Common Dolphin move? 60 km/h ### What does Common Dolphin eat? These agile swimmers primarily feast on small, schooling fish and tasty squid found in the ocean. ### Where is Common Dolphin usually found? Warm and temperate seas. ### How does Common Dolphin hunt? Pursuit ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Common Dolphin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-dolphin)