Delphinus delphis - Dauphin commun - Delfino comune - Common dolphin
Illustration © M. Würtz. Musée océanographique de Monaco, Fondation Albert Ier
Common dolphins weigh around 100 kg and are 2 m long when they reach adulthood. Like striped dolphins, common dolphins have a varied diet, although they show a preference for fish. These dolphins prefer coastal areas and shallower waters, which means that they are much more exposed to human disturbances. They have been seen only relatively rarely in the Liguro-Provençal Basin, however. The species is better represented in the south and east of the Mediterranean Basin.
Threats to the species
The species faces a variety of threats, including the overfishing of fish resources (stocks), nets, man-made pollution and more.