Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Taxobox
name = Short-beaked Common DolphinMSW3 Cetacea|id=14300045]

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status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref =IUCN2008|assessors=Hammond, P.S., Bearzi, G., Bjørge, A., Forney, K., Karczmarski, L., Kasuya, T., Perrin, W.F., Scott, M.D., Wang, J.Y., Wells, R.S. & Wilson, B.|year=2008|id=6336|title=Delphinus delphis|downloaded=7 October 2008]
image2_caption = Size comparison an average human
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Cetacea
familia = Delphinidae
genus = "Delphinus"
species = "D. delphis"
binomial = "Delphinus delphis"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
range_

range_map_caption = Short-beaked Common Dolphin rangeThe Short-beaked Common Dolphin ("Delphinus delphis") is a species of Common Dolphin. It has a larger range than the Long-beaked Common Dolphin ("D. capensis"), occuring throughout warm-temperate and tropical oceans, with the possible exception of the Indian Ocean.cite book|title=Whales, Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World|author=Shirihai, H. & Jarrett, B.|year=2006|page=171–174|isbn=0-691-12757-3] There are more Short-beaked Common Dolphins than any other dolphin species in the warm-temperate portions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals|author=Perrin, W.|chapter=Common Dolphins|editor=Perrin, W.; Wursig, B. and Thewissen, J.|page=245–248|year=2002|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=0-12-551340-2] It is also found in the Carribbean and Mediteranean Seas.

Physical characteristics

The Short-beaked Common dolphin is a medium sized dolphin, smaller than the more popular bottlenose dolphin. Adults range between convert|1.6|and|2|m|ft|lk=on, long, and can weigh between convert|70|and|235|kg|lb|lk=on, although a range between convert|70|and|110|kg|lb|lk=on is more common. Males are generally longer and heavier. The color pattern on the body is unusual. The back is dark and the belly is white, while on each side is an hourglass pattern colored light grey, yellow or gold in front and dirty grey in back.cite book|title=Guide to Marine Mammals of the World|author=Reeves, Stewart, Clapham, Powell|page=388|id=ISBN 0-375-41141-0] It has a long, thin rostrum with up to 50–60 small, sharp, interlocking teeth on each side of each jaw. [cite web|title=The Common Dolphin|url=http://library.thinkquest.org/17963/genus-Delphinus.html|accessdate=2008-07-03]

Taxonomy

The Short-beaked Common Dolphin is a member of common dolphin genus, "Delphinus" within the dolphin family, Delphinidae. Until the mid-1990's, the different forms within "Delphinus" were not recognized as separate species, but were all considered members of the species "D. delphis". Currently, there are two recognized species of "Delphinus" - the Short-beaked Common Dolphin and the Long-beaked Common Dolphin ("D. capensis").MSW3 Cetacea|id=14300043] The Short-beaked Common Dolphin is generally smaller than the Long-beaked Common Dolphin and has a shorter rostrum.

Behavior

Short-beaked Common Dolphins can live in aggregations of hundreds or even thousands of dolphins. They sometimes associate with other dolphin species, such as pilot whales. They have also been observed bow riding on baleen whales, and they also bow ride on boats. It is a fast swimmer, and breaching behavior and arial acrobatics are common with this species.

Diet

The Short-beaked Common Dolphin has a varied diet consisting of many species of fish and squid that live less than convert|200|m|ft|lk=on deep.

Reproduction

The Short-beaked Common Dolphin has a gestation period of 10 to 11 months. The newborn calf has a length of between convert|70|and|100|cm|ft|lk=on and weights about convert|10|kg|lb|lk=on. For the Black Sea population, weaning occurs at between 5 and 6 months, but occurs later (up to about 19 months) in other areas. Typical interbirth interval ranges from 1 year for the Black Sea population to 3 years for eastern Pacific Ocean populations. Age of sexual maturity also varies by location, but can range between 2 and 7 years for females and 3 and 12 years for males.

Maximum lifespan is 35 years, but has been estimated at 22 years for the Black Sea population.

References

External links

* [http://www.wdcs.org: Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society]