Average Size
Newborns: 34 inches-4 feet
Weight: 35-65 lb
Adults: 6-12 feet
Weight: 330-1435 lb
Status:
Common
Population:
Unknown
Threats:
The things that threaten this dolphin include: hunting, tangling in fishing
nets, pollution, human disturbance, and habitat destruction.
Other Names Used:
Group Size:
Groups of 1-10 are generally found inshore, while 1-25 animals are found
offshore. As many as 500 may occur offshore as well.
Behavior:
This delightful and intriguing creature is highly active at the surface. They
frequently display lobtailing, bow-riding, wake-riding, body-surfing, riding pressure waves off of
large whales, and breaching. They may be found swimming along with a variety of other
cetaceans as well as with some sharks and sea turtles. These dolphins are very powerful
swimmers. When they dive, their dives rarely last longer than 3 to 4 minutes. In some areas of
the ocean, they will chase fish up onto the land and beach themselves. They will then eat the fish before sliding back down to the water to perform this sequence all over again. Groups of
Bottlenose Dolphins may assist one another when they are in need. Sometimes these dolphins
will cooperate with local fishermen and help drive fish into the nets to be caught. The fishermen
will allow the dolphins to catch their fill first and then bring in the nets after the dolphins leave.
Where to look for Bottlenose Dolphins:
They are widely distributed in cold temperate to tropical seas world wide.
Calves:
The Female Bottlenose Dolphin may give birth to a calf every other year. Dolphin calves stay with their mother for about 6 years.
Diet:
They eat fish and cephalopods (shelled animals) and occasionally crustaceans.
Habitat:
Inshore and offshore waters
Gray Porpoise
Black Porpoise
Bottle-Nosed Dolphin
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin
Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
Cowfish
Bottlenose Dolphins bellies range from light grey to pink.
Bottlenose Dolphins are the most widely known dolphin.
These dolphins may be the most agressive dolphin species in the wild.
