Delphinus capensis Gray 1828

Delphinus capensis Gray, 1828 —Long-beaked Common Dolphin

Delphinus capensis Gray, 1828 p.2; Type locality- Cape of Good Hope, South Africa; Kuroda, 1938 p.15; Kim et al., 2000 p.96; Kim, 2004 p.242.

D. bairdii Dall, 1873 p.12; Type locality- Coast of California, US.

Range: Delphinus capensis is readily observed along the east coast of Korea during spring and autumn with the peak of occurrence in spring; this dolphin rarely occurs along the coast of Korea in winter (Fig. 103).

Remarks: All common dolphins were classified in a single species, D. delphis, until 1994. Heyning and Perrin (1994), later confirmed by Kingston and Rosel (2004), recognized two distinct species: the long-beaked common dolphin (D. capensis) and the short-beaked common dolphin (D. delphis). The taxonomic status of D. capensis has been further clarified in a morphometric study (Jefferson & Van Waerebeek 2002). Delphinus capensis may be difficult to distinguish from D. delphis, especially at sea. The slender body and longer beak contrast with the shortbeaked common dolphin. The beak has a sharp demarcation from the somewhat flattened melon. The slightly muted coloration and a chin-to-flipper stripe, which often merges with the lip patch, thus darkening the lower jaw, is broader (Jefferson et al. 2008). Since D. delphis is very rare in Korean waters (Amano 2009a, b), previous records of D. delphis in Korea were mostly D. capensis. The Subspecies, D. c. capensis Gray, 1828, occupies the waters of Korea.