Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Delphinus
Species: Delphinus delphis

The common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is a sleek, fast-swimming dolphin with a distinctive hourglass pattern on its sides: tan or yellowish in front and grey behind, meeting below a dark dorsal fin. It grows to about 2.5 m.

Common dolphins can form very large, noisy schools and are known for synchronised leaping and bow-riding. They hunt schooling fish and squid, frequently working together to herd prey toward the surface.

In the Philippines records of this species are scattered and it is considered uncommon compared with the Stenella dolphins. Most sightings come from offshore surveys and ferry crossings rather than from dive sites.

Photo: Cricket Raspet, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist