dolphin, aquatic mammal: Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

The common dolphin averages 8 ft (2.4 m) in length and 165 lb (75 kg) in weight. It has a dark blue or black upper body, a white underbody, golden stripes on the sides, and a sickle-shaped dorsal fin. Its pronounced, slim beak, holding 100 teeth, is separated from its snout by a deep groove. A fast swimmer, it travels in large schools in warm waters and is noted for leaping alongside boats for long distances. Its life span is about 50 years.

Sections in this article:

Introduction
Classification
Interaction with Humans
Echolocation and Communication
Bottle-nosed Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Characteristics and Species
Bibliography

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