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A species
The common dolphin
Cetacean – Odontocete – Delphinidae – Delphinus delphis – Common dolphin
| Size |
Approximate
weight |
||
| maximum and average for the species | 2 m ; 2,5 m |
65 to 100 Kg |
The common dolphin has yellow-beige flanks on the front and grey on the back, separated by a black V-shape that comes right under the dorsal fin. We find him in temperate seas of all the Oceans.
| It is often found on the border of the continental plate close to the 200m depth line. Groups of hundreds of individuals are regularly observed, although in the Strait of Gibraltar, groups of tens of dolphins are more common. During their voyage, they sometimes join other species such as striped dolphins.
|
The beige and grey hourglass shape along with the black line joining the beak and the pectoral fin are both characteristics of the species. |
They mainly feed on small fish and squids. Like other delphinidae species, the common dolphin takes advantage of fishermen. Which is sometimes detrimental for them judging on the number of common dolphins found stranded on our coasts with fishing net marks on their skin.
|
Group of common dolphin bow riding on an exceptional day of oil-like sea in the Strait of Gibraltar. |
Gestation lasts ten to eleven months and birth interval varies between 2 to 5 years. It seems that milking or ready to give birth females stay away from the rest of the group. The Strait of Gibraltar population do not migrate although their seasonal distribution varies. For example, we observe them in October hunting flying fish near Ceuta on the Moroccan side, while in summer they are more likely to be found in the Bay of Algeciras and exploiting a larger part of the Strait. |
At sea, one can misidentify common dolphins for striped dolphins. In order to avoid that error please refer to the Newsletter n°2 page 2.
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CIRCE Newsletter n° 7 - made by Philippe Verborgh & Anne Collet