The common dolphin is widely distributed in temperate, sub-tropical and
tropical regions throughout the world (in a band roughly spanning 50°S
and 60°N). They prefer deep offshore waters and to a lesser extent over
continental shelves of temperatures between 10°C - 28°C.
Some populations may be present all year round, others appear to move in
a migratory pattern. The total population is unknown but numbers are
estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
The short-beaked common dolphin is most commonly present in the east
Pacific, northwest Atlantic and the North and Mediterranean Sea. Recent
investigations however, suppose that the species present in the
Patagonian waters is indeed the short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus
delphis.
In Argentinean waters, this dolphin species occurs between the area of
Buenos Aires province and northern Patagonia with the most common site
of sightings in the San Matias Gulf (Rio Negro). In this gulf, these
common dolphins can occur in groups of over hundreds of animals.
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