Common
dolphins are colorful, with a complex criss-cross or
hourglass color pattern on the side; the long-beaked
common dolphin being more muted in color. The back is
dark gray-to-black from the top of the head to the tail
dipping to a V on the sides below the dorsal fin. The
flanks are light gray behind the dorsal fin and yellowish-tan
forward of the dorsal fin, forming an hourglass pattern.
Its belly is white. There are large dark circles around
the eyes connected by a dark line that runs across the
head behind the beak and a black stripe runs from the
jaw to the flippers. When looking at the profile of
the two common dolphin species, the short-beaked common
dolphin has a more rounded melon that meets the beak
at a sharp angle, as compared to the long-beaked common
dolphin that has a flatter melon that meets the beak
at a more gradual angle.
