Short Beaked Common Dolphin

What is it:

The common dolphin has a distinctive creamy yellow hourglass pattern along the sides, with a dark grey back, tail and flippers and a cream coloured belly. The beak is relatively long and slender. Adult common dolphins measure between 1.7 to 2.7 metres long and weigh about 150 kg. Lifespan is about 20 to 30 years. Worldwide, there are currently two species of common dolphins recognised by scientists - short-beaked (Delphinus delphis) and long-beaked (Delphinus capensis).

Links to Scotland's Marine Atlas:

Chapter 4: Cetaceans

Data originators:

Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)

Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)

This information page is part of the theme:

Cetaceans

More Information:

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.

Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.

This page was last modified on :

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 - 12:06

Map Type	Click title for metadata and licence information	Date of data	View Map
Map Layers (NMPi)	Annual distribution and relative abundance of Short-beaked common dolphin (1979 - 1997)		Access this map on NMPi

Type	Link Title	External Link
Documents	JNCC - Atlas of cetacean distribution in north-west European waters	jncc.defra.gov.uk

Type	Title	External link
Web link	SNH Dolphins, Whales & Porpoises	www.nature.scot
Web link	Sea Watch Foundation - Short Beaked Common Dolphin	seawatchfoundation.org.uk
Web link	Marine Scotland Cetaceans	www.gov.scot
Web link	Whale & Dolphin Trust - Short Beaked Common Dolphin	hwdt.org