Body to 2.6 m long; usually less than 2.^ m. 



Body brownish-gray to black; belly and chest white; criss-cross 



( hourglass) pattern of yellow or tan on sides. 

 Distinctive V where dorsal coloration dips onto flanks below dorsal fin. 

 Distinct black stripe from center of lower jaw to flipper. 

 Beak well defined, often black, some times with white tip. 

 E.\cept in areas of tropical fishing grounds, active bow rider. 

 Distribution tropical and warm temperate, north to at least ;6 N (with 



stragglers to about 50 N; and south to at least 20 S. 



Common Dolphin 



Ddphinus dilphis (A) 



Body to at least 2.5 m long. 



Body very robust in front of dorsal fin. 



Beak very short but distinct. 



Cape bluish-grav; sides more complex. 



Distinct black stripe from region of eve to area of anus; bordered 



above and below by cream white stripes. 

 Dorsal fin small and nearly triangular. 

 Flippers small and pointed. 

 Distribution pan-tropical. 



Eraser's Dolphin 



Lagenodclphts hosti (T) 



Body to 2.5 m long. 



Body black on back with striking gray sides and white belly. 



Back and side color interrupted by "suspenders", arching with back 



contour from behind the head, past dorsal fin towards anus. 

 Beak short and indistinct - dark stripe from mouth to flipper. 

 Dorsal fin tall and sickle-shaped - black and gray (or grayish-white). 

 Distribution from southern Baja California to Amchitka with 



seasonal shifts north and south and inshore/offshore within 



that range. 



Pacific White-sided Dolphin 



Lagmorhynchus ohhqutilens (A) 



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