BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN

Tursiops truncatus

The bottlenose dolphin is the most well-known of all the dolphins (this is the type that is in movies like “flipper” and that is unfortunately most often chosen for the dolphinarium industry).

They have a wide distribution throughout coastal and continental shelf waters in tropical and temperate zones. Bottlenose dolphins are extremely social and often inquisitive animals. They can often be seen lobtailing, breaching, bowriding, and playing with fish, seaweed or other objects.

There are currently three recognised species: common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and Burrunan bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops australis). 

In the Azores, common bottlenose dolphins can be seen year-round in the continental shelf waters. They usually form small groups of fewer than 20 individuals and can sometimes be seen with other species.

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Species Details

Length:

Male: 3.8 – 4 m
Female: 3.7 m
Calf: 1.1 – 1.3 m

Weight:

Male: 650 kg
Calf: 30 kg

Species Specs:

Global population: c.600,000 (population trend unknown)
Status: Least Concern
Diet: Fish, squid, shrimp
Teeth: 72 – 108
Longevity: 25 – 40 years
Breeding age: Male: 10 yrs, Female: 5 – 10 yrs
Gestation: 12 months
Nursing: 12 – 18 months

In other languages:

Portuguese: Roaz
Spanish: Delfín mular
French: Grand dauphin
Italian: Tursiops
German: Großer Tümmler
Dutch: Tuimelaar
Swedish: Flasknosdelfin, öresvin
Norwegian: Tumler
Danish: Øresvin
Finnish: Pullokuonodelfiini
Polish: Delfin botlunos
Russian: Bolshoi delfin, afalina

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