Marine Organism

Common Name: Dolphin

Scientific Name: Delphinus Delphis (short-beaked)

Or Delphinus Capensis (long-beaked)

Life Span: 25-65 years

Size and Description

Common dolphins weigh about 135 kilograms and their length can be from 7.5 to 8.5 feet (ACS Online). Short-beaked and long-beaked dolphins have few differences in terms of their physical description. The short-beaked dolphins are heavier than the long-beaked dolphins. Moreover, the former has larger fins and flippers than the latter. The fins of dolphins are triangular in shape, black to gray in color, and located at the middle of the back. Common dolphins come in different body colors. The back part can be black or pink with a mixture of gray areas. The belly part is usually white in color.

Habitat and Environment

Dolphins can be found in tropical warm waters. Short-beaked dolphins are more common in offshore waters while the long-beaked dolphins are mostly found in the coastal waters.

Reproductive Style

Female dolphins commonly start to give birth when they reach their maturity at 5 to 7 years. Dolphins commonly bear one calf at a time. Reproduction occurs every 2 to 3 years and as many as 8 times within their life span (Beach-Net Online).

Feeding

Fishes are the typical foods of dolphins. Calves (young dolphins) start to eat fish at 3 to 4 months. Adult dolphins can eat up to 14 pounds of fish in a day (Beach-Net Online).

Predators

Dolphins' predators are the sharks. Sometimes, killer whales also feed on dolphins.

Are dolphins endangered?

Dolphins are endangered. Their population is not yet known however because different types of dolphins can be found in different parts of water around the globe. Following is a list of the endangered species of dolphins.

Pink dolphins

River dolphins

Black dolphins

Bibliography

Common Dolphin.

American Cetacean Society. http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/common.htm

Dolphins: The Facts of Life. http://www.beach-net.com/dolphins/biology.html