vs common bottlenose dolphin

Chrysosphaerella brevispina compared with Tursiops truncatus

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while common bottlenose dolphin is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		common bottlenose dolphin
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Ochromonadales (Ochromonadales)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Paraphysomonadaceae	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)
Genus	Chrysosphaerella	Tursiops (Bottlenose Dolphins)
Species	Chrysosphaerella brevispina	Tursiops truncatus

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

common bottlenose dolphin

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~600.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		common bottlenose dolphin
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	45 years
Average Length	—	3.0 m
Average Weight	—	300.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

common bottlenose dolphin

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 12 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (6 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Chrysosphaerella brevispina is a colonial chrysophyte alga in the genus Chrysosphaerella, class Chrysophyceae. The genus is defined by its colonial organization: cells are arranged in spherical or discoid colonies in which each cell bears siliceous scales on its surface and projects stiff, spine-like silica bristles outward. The specific epithet brevispina (Latin: short spine) describes the relatively short silica spines that distinguish this species from congeners bearing longer projections. C. brevispina is found in freshwater environments, particularly in oligotrophic lakes and ponds of Scandinavia, where chrysophyte communities are richest. Chrysosphaerella species, like other chrysophytes, thrive in cold, clear, soft-water habitats and are sensitive indicators of water quality. The silica spines and scales produced by Chrysosphaerella cells are preserved in lake sediments as microfossils, providing paleoenvironmental records stretching back thousands of years. The spines may function as anti-grazing structures, reducing ingestion by zooplankton. The species has not been evaluated for conservation status by the IUCN and is listed as Not Evaluated. Its ecology and distribution in lakes outside Scandinavia are incompletely documented.

common bottlenose dolphin

The most studied and recognized dolphin species, bottlenose dolphins inhabit warm and temperate oceans worldwide, from coastal shallows to the open sea. Highly intelligent with large brains relative to body size, they demonstrate self-recognition, complex communication, and social learning. They live in fluid fission-fusion societies and cooperate to herd fish. A keystone indicator species for marine ecosystem health.