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Identification - dolphins |
 This
page is a guide to
the most commonly found stranded dolphins in
Cornish waters.
The pie chart on the right shows the relative numbers of
strandings for each species.
The key below uses average measurements for adult cetaceans - so
be aware that juvenile and newborn animals will be smaller!
Identification Key
| 1 |
| The animal is more
than 3 metres long: |
Has gills. |
See the basking
sharks page. |
|
Does not have gills. |
See the whale
page. |
| The animal is less
than 3 metres long. |
Go to step 2 |
| 2 |
| Does not have a
prominent beak. |
Go to step 3 |
| Has a
prominent beak. |
Go to step 4 |
| 3 |
| Less than 2 metres
long, a "blunt" face with no prominent
beak, dark grey above, pale underneath and has
numerous spade shaped
teeth. Short, slightly rounded flippers. |
Harbour
porpoise |
| More than 2.5
metres long, a "blunt" face and rounded
head with no prominent beak, no teeth in top jaw and only 4-14
in the lower jaw. Body has pale underside (variable) and darker
grey above with numerous white scar marks. Long sickle-shaped
flippers. |
Risso's
dolphin |
| 4 |
| Body is
stocky, grey above
and white below, with a blunt beak (about 8cm long)
with melon crease above. Teeth are
cone shaped and up to 1.5 cm diameter. |
Bottlenose
dolphin |
| Body has an
hourglass pattern on each flank which is usually yellow between
the middle of the flank and the head. Beak up to 15 cm long. |
Common
dolphin |
| Body has a pinkish
line running from the eye to the genitals and a dark line from
the eye to the dorsal fin. |
Striped
dolphin |
| Short, whitish
beak, robust body, white, grey and black body pattern |
White-beaked
dolphin |
| Short beak, robust
body. Similar to white-beaked dolphin, but has a white patch
on both sides running into a yellowish streak on either side
of the tail stock. |
Atlantic
white-sided dolphin |
Dolphin species found stranded in Cornish waters
| Adult length: 1.4-1.9m |
Adult weight: 55-65kg |
Teeth: U44-56/L42-52 |
| Adult length: 1.9-3.9m |
Adult weight: 150-650kg |
Teeth: U40-54/L36-54 |
Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis and Delphinus capensis)
| Adult length: 1.7-2.4m |
Adult weight: 70-110kg |
Teeth: U80-120/L80-120 |
| Adult length:
2.6-3.8m |
Adult weight:
300-500kg |
Teeth:
U0/L4-14 |
| Adult length: 1.8-2.5m |
Adult weight: 90-150kg |
Teeth: U78-106/L78-110 |
| Adult length: 1.9-2.5m |
Adult weight: 165-200kg |
Teeth: U58-80/L58-80 |
| Adult length: 2.5-2.8m |
Adult weight: 180-275kg |
Teeth: U44-56/L44-56 |
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