(Image credit: David Donnelly)

The common dolphin is a relatively small uniquely patterned delphinid that has a dark grey/brown upper body with a paler underside and light grey tailstock. The flank features an hourglass shaped tri-coloration pattern with a distinct dark stripe from the beak (rostrum) to the pectoral fin. The dorsal fin is triangular in shape which may have a paler coloration bordered by darker pigmentation along the edges. They have a long, slender beak (rostrum) which meets with a deep crease at the melon. They are commonly encountered in offshore waters but may also be sighted close to shore. A unique, small community resides in Port Phillip, Victoria.

Contact the Whale and Dolphin Emergency Hotline on 1300 136 017 if you find stranded, entangled, sick or injured whales or dolphins.

Length: Up to 2.2 m

Habitat

Oceanic, found in tropical to cool temperate waters; 0-260 m depth

Log it

Log this species wherever it is spotted in Victorian waters

Related links/info

Species names on the Redmap site are based on the Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota or CAAB (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/caab/). This is updated regularly and lists the approved common name, family, species name and more.

Species descriptions were provided by David Donnelly.

Related links:

Mason S., Bilgmann, K., Salgado Kent, C., Donnelly, D., Weir, J. Atypical residency of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) to a shallow urbanised embayment in south-eastern Australia. Royal Society Open Science 2016

Jefferson, T.A., Webber, M.A. & Pitman, R.L. 2008. Marine mammals of the world : a comprehensive guide to their identification. Academic Press, London.

Fitzgerald, E. & Jefferies, R., 2011, Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria. http://portphillipmarinelife.net.au/species/4175

Marine Mammals of Victoria: Identification guide http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0014/103541/Marine_mammals_id_guide.pdf
Contact the Whale and Dolphin Emergency Hotline on 1300 136 017 if you find stranded, entangled, sick or injured whales or dolphins.

http://www.dolphinresearch.org.au/