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Long Beach Common Dolphin Watching |
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 Southern California Common Dolphin Description
It is not uncommon to see the Common Dolphin threading through the water and keeping pace with our boats by doing something known as “wake riding” when Dolphin Watching in Long Beach. Physically, Common Dolphins are known for their sophisticated skin pigmentation. That is, while their entire body is generally gray in color, there are certain areas of the skin that are not gray. For one, there is a range of gray hues along its back that altogether forms a V-pattern just below the dorsal fin. There is also a beige area that spans from the dorsal fin to the head. Lastly, their underbellies are white.
Another interesting fact about the Common Dolphin is that there are two different types of Common dolphins. Respectively classified as the short-beaked and long-beaked dolphins, these two kinds of dolphins are distinguished by the shape of their foreheads. The short-beaked dolphin has a forehead that is more rounded and meets the beak at a very acute angle. The long beaked dolphin notably has a thinner forehead that meets the beak at a smoother angle.
Southern California Common Dolphin Behavior
Most humans know dolphins to be very friendly, and the Common Dolphin is. Fewer humans, however, are aware of the social and communal habits of the Common Dolphin. These creatures generally travel in pods of around 50 dolphins. What’s more, they often interact with other pods to form schools that can populate into the thousands. In these schools, Common dolphins act just as schoolchildren do by being very active and mischievous; a behavior that is displayed when these dolphins are breaking through the water’s surface and swimming along the bows of ships on their wakes. Referred to as “wake riding”, It is believed that these dolphins learned how to ride on the wake of ships and boats by riding the wake of larger whales, sea pals that they are also very friendly too.
Along with their good-humored nature, Common dolphins are amazingly compassionate beings. They show genuine affection towards other dolphins and establish bonds easily. They will nurse their sick and display signs of mourning, such as sadness and longing, when a member of the group dies. Additionally, the adults share the responsibilities to look after each others’ young, acting as second mothers and teachers.
Common Dolphins are exceptionally swift swimmers. They have been known to reach speeds of almost 30 mph when chasing after food. The only time these dolphins slow down is when they are feeding, at which time they travel at about 6 mph. They can also travel significant distances, notably as much 100 miles in a single day. Common Dolphins are found mostly in coastal waters and prefer temperate waters.
Southern California Common Dolphin Feeding Habits
Common dolphins have an assorted diet that includes schools of small fish like anchovies, herring and sardines as well as small squid and octopuses. On an average day, they can consume up to20 pounds of fish alone. For Common Dolphins, feeding time is a communal affair, in which other dolphins always join in. They also have notable methods of catching food. One feeding style entails swimming to the center of a school of fish and catching them and swallowing the fish whole. Another feeding method involves swimming underneath a school of fish and forcing them to water’s surface then snatching them out of the air. Common dolphins will feed until satisfied, sometimes for as long as an hour.
Common Dolphin calves are nursed by their mothers for the first 18 months of their lives. However, they do not get their mother’s milk by suckling on the teats because they do not have lips. Instead, the mother squirts the milk into the calf’s mouth with the contraction of her muscles. The mother’s milk is extremely nourishing for the calf, as it is very high in protein and fat. This allows the calf to grow comparatively faster than a human baby would. Even though they receive their mother’s milk for nearly two years, Common Dolphin calves can begin to eat solid foods by the time they are six months old.
We provide our Long Beach Dolphin Watching tours seven days a week with tours at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Our tours are very popular so it is never a bad idea to arrive a little early. Tours usually last from two to two and a half hours. Prices for tickets are as follows:
Individual Ticket Prices – Two Hour to 2 ½ Hour Cruise
Adults $30
Seniors (62 and over) $25
Children (11 and under) $18
Children (2 and under) FREE!
Ticket Prices for groups of 25 or more.
Adults $22
Seniors (62 and over) $18
Children (11 and under) $12
Children (2 and under) FREE!
You can order your tickets online by clicking the button, or calling 562-432-4900. If you have a discount coupon, please present it at the ticket booth.
We appreciate the opportunity to make Long Beach Dolphin Watching your choice for dolphin and whale watching in the southern California area. We offer plenty of parking and are located next to The Aquarium of the Pacific. We are also very close to area attractions such as the Long Beach Lighthouse and Queen Mary as well as excellent shopping and dining so you can make a day of it. No matter the age, a dolphin watching cruise is a fun and exciting adventure that anyone can enjoy. We can’t wait to exceed your expectations and show you why we are the best dolphin watching in southern California experience possible.
For more information on other Southern California Dolphins and Whales, please click on the link below:
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