Delphinus delphis
Silhouette: Chris huh · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is the most abundant cetacean in the world, with an estimated global population of about six million. It is currently the only member of the genus Delphinus, the type genus of the subfamily Delphininae. This places it as a close relative of the bottlenose dolphin, humpback dolphin, striped dolphin, spinner dolphin, Clymene dolphin, spotted dolphin, Fraser's dolphin, the tucuxi, and the Guiana dolphin.
The common dolphin was once divided into two different species, the short-beaked common dolphin and the long-beaked common dolphin. These are now generally regarded as ecotypes. Recent research shows that many long-beaked populations worldwide are not closely related to one another, often originating from short-beaked ancestors, and they do not consistently share the same derived traits. For this reason, these forms are no longer classified as separate species.
Despite its name, the common dolphin is not widely considered the "archetypal" dolphin; that role is more often associated with the bottlenose dolphin, largely because of its frequent appearances in aquaria and the media. Nevertheless, the common dolphin held cultural significance in antiquity and frequently appeared in Greek and Roman art, such as in murals created by the Minoan civilization. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 5 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Portugal | |
| 2 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Aquarium of New Zealand | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Common Dolphin sighting in San Diego on a given day, based on 56 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 15th most-seen of the 26 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Common Dolphin in San Diego on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Dolphin sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Common Dolphin sightings, San Diego ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Lisbon (Portugal, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Dolphin is recorded against all the mammals logged in San Diego (56 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
