The Commerson’s dolphins are only six inches larger than the smallest dolphin species, the Hector’s dolphin. Commerson’s dolphins can reach a little over five feet long and weigh 60-110 pounds with the females being slightly larger than males.

The difference between the subspecies is the commersonii has a distinct white and black coloration while the kerguelenensis is more dark and light grey.

Commerson’s dolphins also have stocky bodies, rounded flippers, and small beaks.

There are two subspecies; one found off the southern coast of South America, and the other found around the Kerguelen Islands in the Indian Ocean. Both species prefer shallow waters and can be seen often in bays or near harbors.

Commerson’s dolphins can live alone or be part of a small pod. Even without a pod, these dolphins usually hunt together, surrounding fish in a tight group, and then swimming through the masses to eat. They have a little over 100 teeth in total, consuming algae, octopuses, fish, and crustaceans. Their metabolism is so fast, the Commerson’s dolphin must eat 10% of its own weight each day.

Commerson’s dolphins mate between September and February, having multiple partners to ensure reproduction. The mothers give birth to one calf after 10-12 months. The calf is born grey, roughly two feet long and weighing only 10-15 pounds! The calf will depend on its mother’s milk for four months before eating solid food, and eventually set off on its own.

Commerson’s dolphins are known to be very social and playful. They can swim up to 7-8 miles per hour, often leaping out of the water and spinning in the air. These dolphins also ride the waves behind boats, breaking waves on the shore, or swimming upside-down. However, swimming upside-down may have more to do with increasing their visibility.

They are named after the French naturalist Dr. Philibert Commerson who first discovered them in the Strait of Magellan in 1767.