20 Types of Dolphins: Facts and Photos of Dolphin Species

In this comprehensive exploration of various types of dolphins, we'll examine their differing classifications, unique appearances, habitats, and diets, among other aspects. Each dolphin species offers intriguing characteristics, making them stand out in the vast ocean. 

From the common dolphin to the killer whales, deepen your understanding of these intelligent and playful creatures.

Related articles: Dolphin Facts, Types of Whales.

Classification of Dolphins

Dolphins belong to the taxonomic order Cetacea, the same category as whales. They are, in fact, a type of toothed whales, landing them in the Odontoceti suborder. They have streamlined bodies, specialized echolocation abilities, and powerful tails for efficient aquatic maneuvering.

The most diverse dolphin representation can be found in the Delphinidae family, home to 38 oceanic species. Certain species in this list will have confusing names, such as killer whales and pilot whales. However, they are indeed types of whales under the Delphinidae family.

But there are another five species inhabiting freshwater environments. River dolphins are spread across four families: Platanistidae, Lipotidae, Iniidae, and Pontoporiidae. 

20 Dolphin Types From All Over The World

Quick links to the different types of dolphins:

1. Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

The Common Dolphin has a distinctive yellow, grey, and white hourglass pattern. They live in warm-temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, including the Atlantic Ocean, preying primarily on sardines, anchovies, and squids.

Their bodies can grow up to 8.2 ft and weigh 330 lbs. With speeds up to 37 mph, they are the fastest among all the dolphin species. 

2. Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

The name of our next type of dolphin comes from their distinctive short, thick beak, which resembles the shape of a bottle's nose. Besides that, we can distinguish the Common Bottlenose Dolphin with its sleek and grey-colored skin that provides natural protection against predators. 

Despite their friendly demeanor, these oceanic dolphins can grow to impressive sizes³, with adult dolphins typically measuring 8 to 13 ft and weighing 331-1433 lbs.

Bottlenose Dolphins swim across the warm, tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Being highly adaptable, they can survive both the open sea and shallow coasts, consuming a wide range of fish and squid. 

3. Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris)

The Spinner Dolphins are highly skilled marine creatures, popular among marine life enthusiasts because they propel themselves high above the water, spin mid-air, and dive back into it.

These types of dolphins, with their slim bodies, tri-colored pattern, and long beaks, inhabit warm tropical oceans, often found in deep offshore waters.

Furthermore, they have adopted a work-life balance, resting during the day in the shallows and hunting at night in deeper waters for small mesopelagic fish, squid, and shrimp.

4. Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis)

As the name suggests, Atlantic Spotted Dolphins live in the Atlantic Ocean. They can grow up to 7.41 ft and weigh around 309 lbs. 

Moreover, they can be distinguished by their numerous spots, which increase as they age. The young ones lack these spots and can be mistaken for other dolphin species. They also have elongated beaks and dark capes covering their backs. 

5. Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

Striped Dolphins are marine mammals¹ known for their blue or grey-blue hues with a lighter underbelly and dark stripes running from eye to flipper. Their weight ranges from 198-331 lbs and stretches between 7.87-8.53 ft.

Moreover, they live in various oceans, including the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Mediterranean. They spend less time near the shore and prefer to venture into the open sea.

Their diet mainly consists of small fish and squid, and they use echolocation to locate their prey in the deep, dark ocean.

6. Long-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis)

The Long-beaked Common Dolphin stands out due to its elongated beak with 47 to 67 pairs of sharp teeth on each side. 

This species also has a striking color pattern, with a dark grey back that fades into a light grey flank and ends in a white or cream belly. Its sides display an hourglass pattern, combining yellowish-tan at the front and light grey at the back.

The Long-beaked Common Dolphin lives in warm, tropical oceans and thrives in shallow, coastal waters, specifically in South America, Africa, and some parts of Asia. 

7. Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)

The Pacific White-Sided Dolphin inhabits the North Pacific Ocean, including regions off Japan, Alaska, and Baja, Mexico. This type of dolphin has a striking tri-color pattern, with a dark grey back contrasting sharply with its white sides and a bit of light grey on its dorsal fin. 

They can dive up to 656 ft while hunting for squid and small schooling fish like herring, anchovies, and sardines.

8. Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)

Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins live in the North Atlantic. They have a distinct pattern of white and yellow streaks against a dark grey background. They have a sturdy build, measuring up to 9 ft and weighing 440-507 lbs. 

Moreover, they are good hunters and can dive up to 197 ft for food. Their diet comprises small fish such as herring, cod, mackerel, squid, and shrimp.

9. South Asian River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica)

Also called the Ganges River Dolphin, this type of dolphin is well-suited to survive in the muddy freshwaters of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries, distinct from the ocean depths usually inhabited by dolphins. This habitat covers Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. 

This freshwater dolphin has an elongated snout, a grayish-brown body, and tiny eyes that make it functionally blind. It also leads a predominantly solitary life.

Like their oceanic counterparts, they use echolocation to navigate and hunt their prey, mainly river-dwelling creatures such as catfish, prawns, and carp. 

Unfortunately, IUCN listed them as endangered species, with less than 5,200 individuals remaining. Pollution, habitat loss, and accidental entanglement in fishing nets are the primary causes of their dwindling numbers.

10. Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor)

Our next type of dolphin also lives in rivers. The Indus River Dolphin, found in Pakistan and India, has a lengthened snout, a triangular dorsal fin, a gray back, and a pinkish belly. It also has tiny, poorly developed eyes at the corners of its mouth.

This animal lacks sight but uses echolocation to hunt the murky river depths for freshwater fish and invertebrates.

Moreover, this type of dolphin is solitary, except during mating season when it forms small groups. 

11. Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer)

The Baiji, or Chinese River Dolphin, is native to China's Yangtze River. It has a long, slender beak with a slight upward curve and a low, triangular dorsal fin. Its skin ranges from bluish-gray to white, shimmering in the sunlight. 

The species has an advanced sonar system that helps it navigate the murky waters of the Yangtze River and locate prey.

However, the Baiji has faced a significant population decline in recent decades. Scientists have declared it possibly extinct since they have not observed a specimen in the wild since 2002.

Human activities, such as overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss, are the main reasons behind their possible extinction. 

12. Fraser's Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)

First observed in the 19th century, Fraser's Dolphin was named after the British marine biologist Francis Charles Fraser. However, it was not until 1956 that it was officially classified as a distinct species.

Living in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, this type of dolphin has a rotund body, a petite conical head, and a distinctive dark stripe that runs from its face to its flipper. The belly is lighter in color, creating a striking visual contrast.

These dolphins prefer deep, offshore habitats; they often live in tropical waters exceeding 6562 ft. Due to their elusive nature, Fraser's Dolphins are one of the least-studied dolphin species.

13. Indo-pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)

The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, also called the Chinese White Dolphin, exhibits a distinctive hump below its dorsal fin and a pale pink or silvery-grey coloration. These dolphins are medium-sized, averaging 6-9 ft in length.

Native to warm, coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, they primarily feed on a diet of fish and cephalopods. Known for their friendly nature, these dolphins interact widely with other species, making them interesting subjects to observe.

14. White-Beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)

The White-Beaked Dolphin typically lives in the cool to temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. This marine mammal measures up to 10.1 ft in length and weighs 772 lbs. 

It has a short, thick beak, usually white or light grey, in contrast to its dark grey body. Additionally, the dolphin has a lighter underbelly and white patches on its flanks and the area behind the dorsal fin.

These types of dolphins prefer small fish and squid, which they hunt in shallow coastal waters and deeper offshore areas. 

15. Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

The Short-Finned Pilot Whale inhabits tropical and subtropical waters. Despite its name, it is more closely related to dolphins than whales since it is within the Delphinidae family. 

It has a sleek, robust, predominantly dark body with lighter patches on the belly and throat. It also has a dorsal fin farther forward than other marine mammals.

16. Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas)

Despite being called a whale, the Long-Finned Pilot Whale resides in the Southern and Atlantic Oceans and is a member of the oceanic dolphin family. It has a torpedo-shaped body and a dark grey or black cloak with lighter patches on its throat and belly. 

This type of dolphin has elongated pectoral fins comprising nearly 20% of its body length. With its 22 feet body, it is considered the second-largest dolphin.

17. Orca/Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Dressed in black and white, the Orca or Killer Whale swims across polar and tropical waters. It is the largest species of the dolphin family, measuring up to an impressive 32 feet in length and weighing as much as 6 tons. Moreover, they are the second fastest dolphin at top speeds of 35 mph.

Orcas deploy remarkable hunting strategies that require a high level of teamwork and cunning². 

They prey on fish, squid, and marine mammals like seals, sea lions, and even bigger whales. 

Even though they are apex predators, human activities pose significant challenges to Orcas, including pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, and noise disturbance.

18. False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)

The False Killer Whales are a type of dolphin with a slender body that can reach up to 20 feet. Their skin is dark gray to black, with a hump on the back of its dorsal fin.

Most of their diet consists of fish and squid, which they hunt by driving the prey to the surface and then sharing the feast. 

They earned their name due to skull shape similarities to the true killer whale, despite being a different species with distinct behavior and appearance.

19. Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata)

The Pygmy Killer Whale lives in the world's tropical and subtropical oceans. It has a rounded head without the typical dolphin beak. Moreover, its body has a dark gray or black cloak, with a white or light gray splash on its belly and lower jaw.

20. Melon-Headed Whale (Peponocephala electra)

The Melon-Headed Whale is not a whale but a dolphin, with a slender body that can reach a length of up to nine feet and a weight of around 500 lbs. Its body is dark grey and lightens towards the belly.

These types of dolphins live in deep, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide, such as Hawaii, Japan, and West Africa. 

Conclusion: Types of Dolphins

Overall, the spectrum of dolphin species is impressively broad, from ocean dwellers to river inhabitants, from social behaviors to solitary nature, and their habitats are notably diverse. Intriguingly, some bear the whale label even though they belong to the dolphin family. 

These creatures, known for their intelligence and playful characteristics, are living testament to nature's ingenuity. But their continued existence calls for our commitment to protection.