![]() When stranded animals are found alive, NOAA Fisheries and our partners assess the animal’s health and determine the best course of action. We work with volunteer networks in all coastal states to respond to marine mammal strandings including all dolphins and porpoises. Credit: NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center/Anne Douglas Overseeing Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Scientific Classification KingdomĪ long-beaked common dolphin seen during a survey in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This bioaccumulation of toxic algae can cause seizures and sometimes death in these dolphins and other marine mammals who consume affected prey. When harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur, sardines and anchovies eat the harmful algae, and they are eaten by long-beaked common dolphins. Long-beaked common dolphins are particularly susceptible to domoic acid poisoning, which is a neuro-toxin produced by algae. ![]() They have been taken in the Japanese drive fisheries as well. Small numbers of long-beaked common dolphins have been killed for food and bait in the Caribbean, Venezuela, Peru, West Africa, and other offshore islands. They can become entangled or captured in commercial fishing gear, such as gillnets, seines, trawls, trap pots, and longlines. One of the main threats to long-beaked common dolphins is entanglement in fishing gear (e.g., driftnets, gillnets, purse seines, and trawls). Distinguishing the species of common dolphins is most difficult for young dolphins. The color patterns can be distinct and vary by geographic and regional areas. The color patterns of young and juvenile long-beaked common dolphins are generally more muted than in adults. A broad dark stripe extends from the lower jaw to the flipper and the dark cape on their back typically includes the eye. They have an hourglass pattern created by a dark back, a dull yellow/tan panel on the side in front of the dorsal fin and a lighter gray panel extending along the side from the dorsal fin to their tail stock. Long-beaked common dolphins can be identified by their distinctive color pattern. Their bodies are sleek and have a relatively tall, triangular dorsal fin in the middle of the back. They have a recognizable dolphin shape with a rounded forehead (known as a melon), a moderately long rostrum, and 47 to 67 pairs of small sharp teeth in each jaw, more than any other dolphin species. Males are around five percent larger than females. ![]() Long-beaked common dolphins are small, measuring 6 to 8.5 feet long and weighing between 160 and 500 pounds. ![]()
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