Short-beaked common dolphin

Previously considered to be one species, in 1994 the common dolphin was separated into short and long-beak varieties.

However, advances in science suggest the initial classification was correct and the common dolphin is in fact one species, which shows considerable variation through its large range.

Other names: Criss-cross dolphin; White-bellied porpoise; Short-beaked saddleback dolphin; Atlantic/Pacific dolphin; Hourglass dolphin

	Male	Female	Calf
Maximum length	2.7m	2.6m	0.8m
Maximum weight	150kg	Unknown	Unknown

IUCN conservation status: Least Concern
(Mediterranean sub-population listed as Endangered; Black Sea sub-species, D. d. ponticus listed as Vulnerable)

What do short-beaked common dolphins look like?

Short-beaked common dolphins have distinctive colouring with multiple colour bands along their sides. Predominantly black or dark grey in colour, forward of the dorsal fin their flanks have a flash of yellow whilst behind the dorsal fin it is white. This colouration forms a beautiful hourglass pattern on their sides. Although the taxonomic debate rages on, there are some differences between the short-beaked and long-beaked common dolphins with the short-beaked slightly stockier than the long-beaked, possessing a more rounded melon and as its name suggests, a shorter beak.

What’s life like for a short-beaked common dolphin?

Fast and furious for this friendly, sociable dolphin. Short-beaked common dolphins typically travel in large groups numbering between 10 and 50 dolphins, and occasionally, hundreds if not thousands. They are incredibly acrobatic and can often be seen breaching and breaking the water's surface at high speed, a behaviour which can be seen from some distance away. Entire pods will take turns to bow-ride all shapes and sizes of boat and they are often seen with other marine mammals (sometimes even bow-riding the wake of large whales) and feeding seabirds. Life however, can also be fraught with danger as short-beaked common dolphins are hunted throughout their range and are also increasingly becoming accidentally entangled in fishing gear.

What do short-beaked common dolphins eat?

A varied diet. They tend to focus mostly on fish found in mid-water depths, like mackerel, herring and other schooling fish but also enjoy a tasty squid every now and then. Short-beaked common dolphins are also known to be cooperative feeders, working with pod mates to drive prey into an easily accessible ‘bait-ball.’

Where do short-beaked common dolphins live?

Short-beaked common dolphins are found in most tropical and temperate waters of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Although sightings have been made in the Indian Ocean it is thought that these were in fact long-beaked common dolphins and as noted, the debate regarding their taxonomic classification rolls on. They can be found in both coastal and offshore waters and also enclosed seas, and indeed separate subpopulations exist in both the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Under threat

Turkey was the only country in the world that hunted short-beaked common dolphin for commercial oil production and in the 1970s, 150–200 dolphins and porpoises were processed each day for oil for domestic use or for export.
Significant numbers of short-beaked common dolphins are accidentally caught in fishing nets throughout their range.

Distribution map

Estimated

In the Oceans