dolphin, aquatic mammal: 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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