Common Dolphin

The common dolphin holds a significant place in history, being the first dolphin species to be scientifically described by Aristotle and Pliny the Elder. Despite its early documentation, the classification of this species has been a subject of ongoing debate, oscillating between being considered as a single species and being divided into two or more. Known for their robust, sleek bodies adorned with a distinctive criss-cross or hourglass color pattern, common dolphins are celebrated for their widespread distribution and abundance. They exhibit a remarkable adaptability to tropical to temperate waters worldwide, thriving in environments that range from nearshore waters to the vast expanses of the open ocean.

This species is characterized by its social nature, often found in large, dynamic groups that can number from a handful to thousands. Their acrobatic displays, high-speed travel, and sociable behavior towards boats and other marine species make them a favorite among whale watchers and marine enthusiasts. The taxonomy of the common dolphin has been complex, with recent research suggesting it to be a single species but with ongoing reviews that may lead to the recognition of distinct subspecies or even separate species based on morphological and genetic studies.

Quick facts

Length

Male: 2,6m

Female: 2,4m

Calf: 0,93m

Weight

Adults: 235 kg

Calves: 10 kg

Habits

Dive Time

3-8 min

Dive Depth

<280m

Reproduction

25-35 years

Life Span:

10-11mth

Gestation period:

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Common dolphins are highly gregarious, forming large groups that can range from a few individuals to over 10,000. These groups are believed to be composed of smaller social units of 20–30 individuals, which are not necessarily genetically related. Membership within these groups appears to be fluid, with individuals swimming with preferred associates. There may be segregation into nursery and bachelor groups, but mixed groups with males, females, sub-adults, and calves are most common. The size and composition of these groups may change seasonally, reflecting the social and environmental dynamics of their habitat.

David Rodrigues | Common dolphin Azores photo

Dive sequence

@Georgina Cabayol

Behavior

Socializing +

Common dolphins are known for their aerial acrobatics, including leaps, somersaults, and flipper-slapping, often in large, splashy groups that highlight their social nature.

Resting +

In the northeast Pacific, large groups are encountered during the day when they are mostly socializing and resting, later separating into smaller groups for nighttime feeding.

Foraging & Diet +

Their diet consists of a wide variety of small schooling fish and squid. Common dolphins employ cooperative feeding techniques to herd fish schools, demonstrating their adaptability and intelligence.

Predators

Significant predators include killer whales and sharks. Their social nature and agility often help them evade these threats, but they remain at risk, especially the smaller individuals.

https://uk.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/common-dolphin/

Distribution & Movements

Common dolphins are found in tropical to temperate waters worldwide, with their distribution ranging roughly from 40°N in the North Pacific and 60°N in the North Atlantic to about 50°S. They inhabit areas from nearshore waters to thousands of kilometers offshore, with some subspecies entering shallow waters very near shore. Their abundance varies seasonally and with fluctuations in sea surface temperature, often showing a preference for areas of strong upwelling and steeply sloping seabeds. This wide distribution reflects the common dolphin’s adaptability to different marine environments and conditions.

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

10-12 years
Females 2–10 years, Males 3–12 years.

Gestation Period

10–11.5 months

Number of Calves

One every 2-3 years
Single calf, typically every 2–3 years, possibly longer in some populations.

Suckling Period & Nursing

10–19 months
Solid food introduced c. six months. Calves are nursed with milk from their mothers, overlapping with the introduction of solid food around six months, fostering growth and development.

Lifespan

Common dolphins typically live for 25–35 years, contributing significantly to their marine ecosystems over time.

Mating Strategy

They employ a promiscuous mating system with no long-term pair bonds, promoting genetic diversity through multiple mating partners.

Species in the Azores

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

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Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm whales hold the title of largest predator on Earth eating mostly giant squids from the deep oceans.

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

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Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

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Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

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Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

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Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

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Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

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Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

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Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

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Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

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Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

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Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Notable for their striking body patterns and acrobatic prowess.

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

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Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

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Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

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False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

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Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Sowerby’s Beaked Whales are elusive denizens of the North Atlantic, recognized by their slender beaks and distinctive forehead bulges.

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

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Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

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Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

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Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

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Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

View profile

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

View profile

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

View profile

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

View profile

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

View profile

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

View profile

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

View profile

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

View profile

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

View profile

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

View profile

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

View profile

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

View profile

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

View profile

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

View profile

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

View profile

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

View profile

Whale Watching Azores Essentials

Explore, Love, and Protect: Unveiling the essence of Whale Watching in the Azores

More information

Explore Azores

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Social, friendly and high-speed travelers.

Quick facts

Length

Weight

Habits

Reproduction

Reproduction

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern <img width="21" height="26" class="graphics-design-i" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tooltip-more-info-futurismo.svg"> Common and widespread, low vulnerability.

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Dive sequence

Behavior

Predators

Distribution & Movements

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

Gestation Period

Number of Calves

Suckling Period & Nursing

Lifespan

Mating Strategy

Species in the Azores

Sighting frequency

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Species

Departure Points

Dates

Related Scientific Articles

González, L. (2018): Spatio-temporal distribution of the order Cetacea in the Azores: relationship between biotic and abiotic variables

Brandão, M. (2021): Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in São Miguel Island, Azores: photo-identification of Highly Identifiable Individuals (HII) and spatio-temporal distribution

Fernandez, M. et al (2011): Modeling the distribution of cetaceans using opportunistic presence-only data in São Miguel Island

Fernandez, M. (2009): Differences in spatial distribution of two small delphinids in two islands of the Azores Archipelago

Sardà, C. et al (2011): AzoresPhotoID: First Results from an Open-Access Photo-Identification Catalog

González, L. et al (2014): Temporal and spatial distribution of common dolphins off São Miguel

Al Abbar, F. et al (2019): Distribution and residency patterns of short-beaked common dolphins around São Miguel Island

Sousa, A. et al (2021): Climate change vulnerability of cetaceans in Macaronesia

Sousa, B. et al (2009): Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Delphinus delphis and Stenella frontalis in São Miguel Island, Azores

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern

Common and widespread, low vulnerability.