Common dolphin vs Risso's dolphin
The risso's dolphin is heavier: 387.5 kg against 80 kg for the common dolphin, about 4.8 times the weight.
Photo: bogsuckers · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: National Marine Mammal Laboratory, no individual author credit given · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
What is the difference between a common dolphin and a risso's dolphin?
Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.
- The risso's dolphin is heavier: 387.5 kg against 80 kg for the common dolphin, about 4.8 times the weight.
- The risso's dolphin is longer-lived: 30 years against 20 years for the common dolphin, about 50% longer.
- They share the family Delphinidae but sit in different genera: Common dolphin in Delphinus, Risso's dolphin in Grampus.
- Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Side by side
| Common dolphin | Risso's dolphin | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Delphinus delphis | Grampus griseus |
| Family | Delphinidae | Delphinidae |
| Order | Cetacea | Cetacea |
| Weight | 77.8 kg – 80 kg | 342.5 kg – 460 kg |
| Length | Not recorded | 3.05 m |
| Lifespan | 20 years | 30 years |
| Main food | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Countries recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.
Full record: Common dolphinFull record: Risso's dolphinCompare other animals