Common Name: Bottlenose Dolphin
Species: Tursiops Truncatus
Adult Weight: 150-650kg (330-1,435lbs)
Birth Weight : 15-30kg (35-65lbs)
Adult Length: 1.9-3.9m (6 1/4-12 3/4ft)
Birth Length: 85cm-1.3m (34in-4 1/4ft)
Status: Common
Habitat: Inshore and Offshore
Diet: Fish, squid and sometimes crustaceans
Description: The Bottlenose Dolphin varies greatly in size, shape and colour from one individual to another and according to the geographical region in which it lives. There may be several different species. However, there appear to be 2 main varieties: a smaller, inshore form and a larger, offshore form. Both have rather complex colouring although under most light conditions at sea, they appear to be a uniform quite featureless grey colour. The main characteristics are its prominent, dark dorsal fin, combined with an inquisitive and active behaviour. It is fairly common and widespread, but population declines have been noted recently in parts of northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea.
Behaviour: Highly active at the surface, frequently lobtails, bow-rides, wake-rides, body-surfs, rides pressure waves of large whales, and breaches (sometimes leaping several metres high. May be found in association with a variety of other cetaceans, as well as sharks and sea turtles. Wild, lone individuals (usually males) sometimes seek out swimmers and small boats, remaining in the same area for years. Dives rarely last longer than 3 or 4 minutes inshore, but sometimes longer offshore. In some areas, Bottlenose Dolphins will chase fish out of the water, beaching itself before wriggking back. Groups may provide mutual assistance to one another; sometimes cooperating with local fishermen.
Distribution: Found in many enclosed seas such as the Black, Red and Mediterranean Seas and the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. Some offshore populations seem to undertake seasonal migrations; many inshore populations are resident year-round. Outside tropical waters, seen mainly inshore with a wide range of coastal habitats from open coasts with strong surf to lagoons, large esturaries, and even the lower reaches of rivers and harbours. Offshore forms are common around oceanic islands, but can be seen in the open sea in the eastern tropical Pacific and elsewhere. In the northern North Atlantic, rare further north than the United Kingdom.
