| Scientific name: | Tursiops truncates |
| Family: | Delphinidae |
| Range: | Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans |
| Habitat: | Coastal to oceanic |
| Status: | Common |
| Population: | In excess of 1 million |
| Diet: | Squid, fish and crustaceans |
| Length: | 2-3.8m |
| Weight: | 150-650kg |
Identification
Flukes
This is the tail of the animal. Grey above and below with a notch in the middle, swept back leading edges and fairly straight trailing edges that are curved at the edges
Dorsal Fin
The dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates. Grey, convex on the leading edge, and strongly concave on the trailing edge.
Flippers
Grey flippers with curved leading edges and fairly pointed tips
Head Shape
Beak usually grey on the upper side and paler on the lower. Forehead is grey
Body
Dark grey cape extends from shoulders to beyond the dorsal fin, with lighter grey area cross the middle flank and a paler region along the lower flank and underside.
Group Size
Inshore groups of 2-15 individuals, offshore groups commonly average 20 with up to several hundred on occasion.
Behaviour
Commonly bow-ride, wake-ride, breach and lobtail. Inshore animals rarely dive for more than 3-4 minutes, but offshore animals may do so.