Delphinus delphis

Size at birth : 31½ - 33½ inches(80-85cm)
Adult Male    : 105 to 231 cm
Adult Female: 93 to 230 cm
Weight    : 165 lb (75kg)

Short-beaked common dolphins appear to have a preference for upwelling-modified waters, areas with steep sea floor relief, and extensive shelf areas, but they are widespread in warm temperate and tropical waters (Evans 1994). In the eastern tropical Pacific, they prefer equatorial and subtropical waters with a shallow thermocline, relatively large seasonal changes in surface temperature, and seasonal upwelling (Reilly 1990; Fiedler and Reilly 1994).

The Short-beaked common dolphin is a medium sized dolphin, smaller than the more popular bottlenose dolphin. Adults range between 1.6 to 2.7 meters long, and can weigh between 70 and 235 kilograms. 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.It has a long, thin rostrum with up to 50-60 small, sharp, interlocking teeth on each side of each jaw.

Sexual maturity for female: 6-7 years, male: 5-12 years. Mating season occur when Spring and Fall, possibly all year round in the tropics. Gestation period for female is 10-11.5 months and calving interval is 1 calf per year.

RALF KIEFNER, WHALES & DOLPHIMS CETACEAN WORLD GUIDE, PUBLISHED BY IKAN, Page: 197-199