How to identify
- a very distinctive figure-of-eight pattern along the side, with yellow at the front and a V-shape under the dorsal fin
- grey towards the rear
Where and when
Common dolphins live at a range of sea depths and are now regularly seen in the Celtic and Irish Seas, the Channel and even the North Sea.
Behaviour
A very sociable dolphin, typically travelling in groups of between 6 and 50, or occasionally hundreds or even thousands. Larger groups sizes tend to occur in the subtropics where food is more plentiful.
Common dolphins are very acrobatic, and can often be seen breaching or breaking the surface at high speed – a behaviour that’s visible from significant distances.
Entire pods will take turns to bow-ride boats of all shapes and sizes. Often seen with other marine mammals, sometimes bow-riding the wake of large whales too!
Gallery
