The Common Dolphin is 7 to 8 feet long, weighs 180 lbs, swims at more than 40 mph and has a life span of around 25 years. The dorsal fin is recurved and halfway along its back. The lateral fins are of medium size. It has a prominent, beaky nose with a dark grey to brown back.

The underside is pale grey to light yellow, and sometimes with tinges of pink. It looks as though it has a saddle on its back, hence the American name “Saddle Back Dolphin”. This dolphin feeds on about 10lb of sprats, sardines & herrings daily. There are around 200 in the bay of Gibraltar.