Long-beaked Common Dolphin - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

The Long-beaked common dolphin is a member of common dolphin genus, Delphinus within the dolphin family, Delphinidae. Until the mid-1990s, the different forms within Delphinus were not recognized as separate species, but were all considered members of the species D. delphis. Currently, there are two recognized species of Delphinus — the Short-beaked common dolphin (D. delphis) and the Long-beaked common dolphin. The Long-beaked common dolphin is generally larger than the Short-beaked common dolphin and has a longer rostrum.

The Indo-Pacific common dolphin is sometimes considered a separate species (D. tropicalis) but is more often considered a form of the Long-beaked common dolphin.