Dazzling Dolphins

Dazzling Dolphins Written by Kaylee Rider

Table of Contents Basic Info

Intelligence and Echolocation

Lifespan and Conservation Reproduction Habitat

Feeding and Diet

Life History Cycle

Migration

Works Cited

Basic Info The common name of a bottlenose dolphin is common bottlenose dolphin. The scientific name of a bottlenose dolphin is Tursiops truncatus. The bottlenose dolphin is a mammal. They are carnivores which means that they only eat meat. Their average lifespan in the wild is 45 to 50 years which is a while if you ask me. They weigh 1,100 lbs. They are much heavier than we are.

Intelligence and Echolocation

They can swim over 18 mph which is pretty fast for swimming. They surface to breathe. They travel in social groups called pods and communicate through a complex system of squeaks and whistles known as echolocation. They also use echolocation to find prey. They can make up to 1,000 noises per second. Those noises reveal the location, size, and shape of their target.

Conservation Bottlenose dolphins are typically found in tropical oceans and other warm waters around the globe.

They were hunted once for their meat and oil, but not much dolphin fishing occurs. They can, however, get entangled in nets and other fishing equipment.

Lifespan and Reproduction Bottlenose dolphins can live at least 40 years with some living even longer. They start to reproduce between 5 and 15 years of age.

Females reach sexual maturity before males. They are pregnant for about 12 months, giving birth every 3-6 years. The calves stay with their mother for 3-6 years.

Habitat Bottlenose dolphins live in warm waters and rivers.

Feeding and Diet The bottlenose dolphins eat invertebrate, bottom-dwelling fish, squid, and whatever oceanic fish they can find. They can eat alone though they don’t usually do it.

They approach fishing trawlers and human-induced prey abundance.

Life History Cycle Bottlenose dolphin calves are born in water after a one-year gestation period. They suckle for approximately 18 months, then live with the mother for about 4 years.

Migration Differentiations in water temperature, food fish movements, and feeding habits cause some dolphins to migrate seasonally.

Some dolphins go farther south in the winter.

Works Cited National Geographic NOAA The Australian Museum SeaWorld

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