Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
A truly beautiful dolphin with its typical hourglass pattern of white, grey, yellow and black on the side. It is an energetic acrobat and one of the fastest cetaceans. It can reach a maximum speed of 60 km/h.
Presence in the Strait of Gibraltar: permanent
Other names: short-beaked common dolphin, saddleback dolphin, criss-cross dolphin, hourglass dolphin, cape dolphin, common porpoise, white-bellied porpoise
| Suborder: | toothed whales |
|---|---|
| Family: | Delphinidae (dolphins) |
| Size: | 1,7 - 2,4 m |
| Weight: | 70 - 110 kg |
| Diet: | fish and cephalopodes |
| Status: | data deficient |
Features:
- black cape
- yellow and grey hourglass pattern on sides
- white underside
- falcate or triangular dorsal fin
- flukes with concave trailing edges and slight notch