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The Short-beaked Common Dolphin

The Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is one of the most frequent observed cetaceans in our dolphin watching Tours.

In this specie we can find individuals with lengths varying from 1,6 to 2,4 m and can reach 100 to 200 kg in weight, in which the females are slightly smaller than the males.

The short-beaked common dolphin feeds on a great variety of fishes, like sardines, small mackerel, hake or anchovies, and also cephalopods as octopus, squids and cuttlefish.

It can be found in tropical and temperate waters from the entire world, and in Portugal it is present in the continent, and also in the archipelagos of Madeira and Azores.

They reproduce during the entire year, with a higher frequency during spring and summer, mating a little over a year and both males and females have longevity of around 50 years.

Being social animals, they form groups of dozens till thousands of individuals, dividing themselves according to their gender or sexual maturity. Being that they can also be found together with other species of dolphins such as striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

They are very active and acrobatic animals, performing aerial jumps while swimming. Being able to move at a velocity of 29 miles/hour, they are very fast while pursuing their preys or moving between feeding grounds.

During our Marine Wildlife Tours they are often seen interacting with our boat, swimming at the bow of the boat.

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