Story: Dolphins

Short-beaked common dolphins

Short-beaked common dolphins

Short-beaked common dolphins have buff-yellow patches on their sides and a tall dorsal fin. Despite their name, their beak is only slightly shorter than that of the long-beaked common dolphin (not found in the New Zealand region). They frequently break clear of the water when swimming – this saves energy, as air is less dense than water.

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Photograph by Rob Harcourt

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Dolphins - Common dolphins', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4667/short-beaked-common-dolphins (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 1 Sep 2015