AnAge entry for Delphinus delphis

Classification (HAGRID: 02287)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Cetacea (Taxon entry)
                Family: Delphinidae (Taxon entry)
                    Genus: Delphinus
Species: Delphinus delphis
Common name: Short-beaked saddleback dolphin
Synonyms: Delphinus capensis, Delphinus major, Delphinus capensis capensis

Maximum longevity: 25 years (wild)
Source: ref. 1403
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: Little is known about the longevity of common dolphins. It is likely that they live over 20 years [0434]. One wild born animal was still living in captivity at about 33-34 years of age [0671]. Anecdotal reports suggest they may live over 40 years. The oldest individual in a large study on female specimens inhabiting the eastern tropical Pacific was 25 years old [1403].

No information on metabolism is available.

[1403] Danil and Chivers (2007), Growth and reproduction of female short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, in the eastern tropical Pacific
[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
[0443] Ronald Nowak (2003), Walker's Marine Mammals of the World
[0610] Ernest (2003), Life history characteristics of placental non-volant mammals
[0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
[0680] Wootton (1987), The effects of body mass, phylogeny, habitat, and trophic level on mammalian age at first reproduction