Short-beaked common dolphin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Short-beaked common dolphin
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Delphinus
Species:	delphis
Subspecies
D. d. delphis D. d. ponticus
Range of short-beaked common dolphin
Synonyms
Delphinus albimanus Peale, 1848 Delphinus algeriensis Loche, 1860 Delphinus delphus Linnaeus, 1758 Delphinus forsteri Gray, 1846 Delphinus fulvifasciatus Wagner, 1846 Delphinus fulvofasciatus True, 1889 Delphinus janira Gray, 1846 Delphinus loriger Wiegmann, 1846 Delphinus marginatus Lafont, 1868 Delphinus novaezealandiae Gray, 1850 Delphinus novaezeelandiae Wagner, 1846 Delphinus novaezelandiae Quoy & Gaimard, 1830 Delphinus vulgaris Lacépède, 1804 Delphinus zelandae Gray, 1853

The short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is one of the two species of the genus, Delphinus. It is found in warm temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. It is also found in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Description

The short-beaked common dolphin is a medium-sized dolphin, but is smaller than the other species of the genus Delphinus, the long-beaked common dolphin. Adults grow between the lengths of 1.6 to 2 meters (5.2 to 6.6 ft), and weigh between 70 and 235 kg (150 to 520 Ib). Short-beaked common dolphins are said to be heavier than the Long-beaked common dolphin. The back of the short-beaked common dolphin is dark grey, the belly is white, and the sides are light grey, gold or yellow.

Feeding

Short-beaked common dolphins eat fish like cod, herrings, sardines, and flying fish. They also eat octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, and crustaceans.

Reproduction

Female short-beaked common dolphins are pregnant for around 10 to 11 months before giving birth to young which are 70 to 100 cm (2.3 to 3.3 ft) long, and weigh about 10 kg (22 Ib). Males mature at the age of between 3 and 12 years old, and females mature at the age of between 2 and 7 years old. They live for around 35 years, but some live for only 22 years.

Species

The short-beaked common dolphin was first thought to be the only species of the genus, Delphinus. But soon, studies show that there is another species, the long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis). The difference between the short-beaked common dolphin and the long-beaked common dolphin is that the short-beaked common dolphin is smaller in size and has a smaller beak than the long-beaked common dolphin.

Images for kids

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  "Short-beaked" common dolphin, Ireland

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  "Long-beaked" common dolphin, California

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  Common dolphin, Ireland

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  A common dolphin jumping off Morro Bay Nature Reserve

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  Common dolphins in the Bay of Gibraltar

See also

In Spanish: Delfín común oceánico para niños