At nighttime they enjoy diving deep down in the ocean, down at least 850 feet (260 m), apparently searching for food at depths where there is mostly plankton and larger organisms. That is quite a stunning figure when commercial fishermen take only 110,000 tons per year. Common dolphins feed primarily on pelagic shoaling fish such as pilchards (Sardinops ocellatus), mackerel (Scomber japonicus), squid (Loligo spp) and anchovies (Engraulis japonicus). Therefore, they have evolved to eat fish and these marine mammals are typically very good at catching their prey using highly developed sensory systems. Dolphins need to consume enough food in order to survive, as well as stay healthy. A United Nations report claims that these dolphins along the California coast eat 300,000 tons of anchovies each year. The average speed common dolphins keep is 7 km/h, but they can reach speeds of 35 km/h and have been reported to cover 120km in 24 hours. Dolphins enjoy different species of fish like mullet, mackerel, catfish and more. Several dolphins can drive their prey clear out of the water and then catch them in midair! Their teeth are small, sharp, and recurved, perfectly adapted for catching slippery fish. They may feed off sardines, sauries, small bonito, squid, and a variety of other fish all in the same meal session. They are fast swimmers and enjoy performing acrobatic maneuvers but they are not fond of being kept in captivity. They may gather in groups of several thousands for special dolphin events and sometimes even hang out with other dolphin species. On the coasts of North America the common dolphin ranges from Oregon to Costa Rica on the Pacific side and from Newfoundland to the Caribbean on the Atlantic. The average weight is around 300 pounds (136 kg). The common dolphin is somewhat smaller than the bottlenose, in some cases a male may reach 8.5 feet (2.6 m) in length. That would be the bottlenose dolphin, which is distinguishable by its more uniform, solid grey skin, while the common dolphin has a white belly and light grey to yellow stripes on the sides. It may not, however, be the common dolphin you are imagining, that is often seen in popular media (SeaWorld, Flipper). The dolphin, which has been divided into two separate species (and there may be a third species) based on the length of their beaks, is one of the most widespread and abundant dolphins in the world which lives in warm and temperate seas. The common dolphin is a very sporty water mammal, leaping in unison with other members of its group as they play at the bow of moving sea vessels.
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