We all have heard about Dolphin shows that attract travelers globally. But have you ever wondered how many types of dolphins are there? Dolphins have differing physical characteristics and habitats because they are a group of diverse aquatic animals. However, the term is often interchangeably used to refer to different species.

Each Dolphin has its unique feature setting them apart; we all would love to recognize them. To illustrate the same, we have curated a list of 12 beautiful types of Dolphins and their distinguishing features. Read on!

What is a Dolphin?

The aquatic mammals within the infra order Cetacea are commonly known as Dolphins. The extant families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Iniidae (The new world river dolphins), Platanstidae (the Indian river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (Chinese river dolphin) are often referred to with the term Dolphin.

Though most dolphins are oceanic, a few species live in fresh rivers.

River Dolphins:

A handful of dolphins exclusively live in rivers, though most of the world’s dolphin species live in oceans. They are among the highly-threatened cetaceans on the planet, and Amazon, Ganges, and Indus rivers are where these types of freshwater dolphins inhabit.

Ocean Dolphins:

As the name suggests, the dolphins that primarily live in oceans are called oceanic dolphins. Though not all oceanic dolphins are well-known to researchers, the vast majority are oceanic dolphin species.

Types Of Dolphins With Images:

We have presented you with the list of the top 12 types of dolphins with images and other details.

1. Bottlenose Dolphin:

Bottlenose dolphins are the types of pet dolphins because of their adaptability to life in captivity. It is one of the well-studied and well-known dolphin species in the world. Bottlenose dolphins are found in tropical and temperate waters in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. They are characterized by dark gray skin and their namesake shirt and thick snout.