Common Dolphins

The common dolphin has a longer, narrower and pointed beak which distinguish them from the bottlenosed dolphin. They have a 'criss-cross / hourglass' pattern on the sides of the body. A cream coloured patch is noticeable from the eye to dorsal fin and a grey patch behind to tail. There is a dark stripe from the flipper to the lower jaw. It is one of the most common warm-temperate and tropical species, most abundant near the coast. They are highly gregarious forming huge pods of 20 - 1000s individuals. They usually feed in deeper water, on fish, squid and cuttlefish. Common dolphins often follow ships for miles, swimming up to 20 knots.