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Common Dolphins are aquatic mammals.
Short Beaked Common Dolphin Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Delphinus
Species: Delphis
Long Beaked Common Dolphin Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Delphinus
Species: Capensis
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Short Beaked Common Dolphin Other Names:
Offshore Common Dolphin, Saddle-backed Dolphin,
Cape Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Criss-cross Dolphin,
Hourglass Dolphin, Saddleback Dolphin, and White-bellied
Porpoise
Long Beaked Common Dolphin Other Names:
Arabian Common Dolphin, Arabian Saddle-backed
Dolphin, Baja-neritic Common Dolphin, Common Dolphin,
Malabar Common Dolphin, Malabar Saddleback Dolphin,
Long-beaked Saddle-back Dolphin, and Saddle-back
Dolphin
Size: Both of the Common Dolphin species
are medium sized dolphins. They measure between
6 to 8.5 feet in length and weigh between 180
and 330 lbs (less commonly some can be found in
excess of 500 lbs). Male Beaked Common Dolphins
are longer and heavier than their female counterparts.
Habitat: Long-beaked common dolphins
generally prefer shallow, tropical, subtropical
and warmer temperate waters closer to the coast.
Short-beaked common dolphins generally prefer
deeper and cooler waters farther from the coast
when compared to long-beaked common dolphins.
Long-beaked common dolphins prefer shallower and
warmer water closer to the coast.
Diet: Common Dolphins are predators and
anchovies, hake, pilchards, sardines, krill and
squid.
Senses: Common Dolphins have an acute
sense of hearing. They have acute vision both
in and out of the water. Their sense of touch
is well developed. Common Dolphins have a limited
sense of smell. Common Dolphins use echolocation
for navigation, it can be thought of as similar
to a built in radar system.
Hunting: Common Dolphins may work together
to herd schools of prey. They chase a school of
fish and take turns rushing through the school,
eating fish whole.
Gestation: Beaked Common Dolphins carry
their young for 10-12 months. They give birth
every 1 to 3 years.
Birth: Beaked Common Dolphin calves are
born tail first. They are 2.5 to 3 feet in length
and weigh approximately 20 lbs.
Calves: Common Dolphin calves will nurse
for up to 6-19 months depending on their location.
Sexual Maturity: Male Common Dolphins
reach sexual maturity between 2-7 years, while
females reach sexual maturity at 3-12 years.
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