Common dolphin

Two jumping Delphinus specimens ( type not specified)

Delphinus is a genus of dolphins ( Delphinidae ). At the genus includes two very similar species, the common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis ) and the Langschnäuzige common dolphin ( Delphinus capensis ). The common dolphin inhabits mainly the deep sea -coast and is also found in the North Sea and in the Mediterranean, but not in the Indian Ocean. The Langschnäuzige common dolphin, however, is to be found especially in tropical coastal waters over the continental shelf

The common dolphin is a highly variable species and the common dolphin Langschnäuzige described in 1828 was originally attributed to the common dolphin. Only in the 1990s, the species was recognized.

Features

Delphinus species are a maximum of 2.5 to 2.70 meters long, females remain slightly smaller in general. In contrast to many other dolphins Delphinus species are drawn very noticeable. You own to the body sides, a characteristic " hourglass pattern " with an ocher big breast and side spot on the hull, which is cut off by a V-shaped bulge in the dark back color below the fin of the light gray color of the back pages. Another typical for the genus feature is a dark stripe which extends on each side of the mandible from the tip to the approach of the dark flipper. The melon is well developed in both species and leads to the typical head profile.

Way of life

While the common dolphin, the high seas preferred the Langschnäuzige common dolphin lives near the coast in the tropics. Both species live in large schools, are very lively, fast swimmers and often show jumps, somersaults and sometimes "ride" in the bow waves of ships. They feed on schooling fish, squid and krill. The single young is born after a gestation period of 10 to 11 months.