Common Dolphin

What you're getting

The common dolphin actually refers to two separate species within the genus Delphinus: the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis). Taxonomists and cetologists recognise both.

You might not picture this one when you think "dolphin" — that's the bottlenose's job, thanks to marine parks and Flipper. But here's the thing: the common dolphin was the dolphin of ancient Greece and Rome, turning up constantly in their art and literature.