Long-snouted Common Dolphin | Hurghada Dolphins in the Red Sea Egypt

The Long-snouted Common Dolphin | Hurghada Dolphins in the Red Sea Egypt

Long-snouted common dolphin

(Cape bottlenose dolphin)

It was formerly classified as a subspecies of common dolphins, divided into short-beaked dolphins and common dolphins.

The other long-snouted dolphins are more widespread.

According to these names, the length of the beak is the distinguishing feature and the difference between these two species, but this does not exclude the presence of other defining characteristics that may differentiate them.

The Long-snouted Common Dolphin: Appearance/Characteristics

The body of this common long-snouted dolphin is naturally slimmer, yet it has a less rounded head and even more teeth than other common dolphins, with 47 to 67 pairs on each jaw.

The head is slender and the muzzle is narrow with a distinct notch.

The muzzle is dark up to the eyes, and another dark stripe usually runs from the eye to the rear.

Males reach a length of 2-3 meters / females 1.9-2.5 meters.

Adult dolphins weigh between 80 and 150 kg, with males being slightly heavier than females.

Young animals are 0.8-1 meter long and weigh approximately 10kg at birth.

The Long-snouted Common Dolphin Lifestyle

The common long-beaked dolphin lives in groups of usually 10-30 animals, which can gather in larger aggregations. Some groups consist of up to 500 dolphins.

These energetic aquatic animals are usually observed when they gather and swim at high speed.

They also like to approach ships, attempting to swim alongside them in their bow waves for extended periods. They can dive to great depths, sometimes reaching 280 meters, and not only that, they can hold their breath for long periods, sometimes up to 8 minutes, primarily to facilitate the capture of prey.

The long-snouted common dolphin diet

The long-beaked dolphin is a fish-eater. Its diet includes...

Anchovies, sardines, crabs and all types of fish from the sea.

Something else you should know about these long-snouted dolphins is that they work together to get food and prefer to help their fellow dolphins push the prey into the so-called bait ball, making it easier to reach.

Fun and interesting facts about long-snouted dolphins

The species of this common long-snouted dolphin is the same as the classic dolphin that was circulated and mentioned in Greek and Roman mythology.

Super pods of up to 5,000 species of these dolphins have been found in Monterey Bay, California.

Normally, you can only see one third of a dolphin's body from the water's surface; the rest is underwater.

The common long-snouted dolphin is believed to be a loyal and trusted friend to so many sailors that the dolphins travel side by side with them as soon as fast-moving ships make their way across the water's surface.

It's also great to know that dolphins like to travel by using the waves.

Long-snouted dolphins are highly intelligent aquatic animals and are believed to possess a high level of culture, which is considered unique and unusual by humans.

These long-snouted dolphins have been seen teaching their newborns how to use tools, such as covering their noses with a sponge for protection as they begin to forage for food.

Dolphins possess a number of highly sophisticated and unique communication methods, including the use of a so-called "signature whistle" which causes other dolphins of their own species to identify them and their location.

Long-snouted dolphins, like any other species, use echolocation, and the echo is a natural one, similar to what is known today as radar, which helps them navigate and find food.

Habitat/where do long-snouted dolphins live

They have been observed in the oceans and the Red Sea, but are believed to inhabit warm, and sometimes temperate and tropical, waters in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as the Pacific Ocean. They are often found 180 kilometers from the coast.