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453 Featured Specimen
Common bottlenose dolphin

Details

Common bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Size
2–4 m · 150–650 kg
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Sociality
Social
Lifespan
40–60 years

The common bottlenose dolphin is a familiar, highly social dolphin of warm seas. Groups travel from coasts to offshore waters and navigate with sound.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
Pacific OceanPacific OceanPacific OceanAtlantic OceanAtlantic OceanAtlantic OceanAtlantic OceanAtlantic OceanIndian Ocean

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It occurs in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, from bays, estuaries, and continental shelves to offshore waters. Productive feeding areas shape its movements.

Appearance

Length 200-400 cm; weight 150-650 kg. A grey streamlined body, short beak, and curved dorsal fin are typical. The underside is paler, and flippers and flukes give precise control.

Behavior

Diurnal and social, it forms fluid groups. Clicks support echolocation, while whistle-like calls help individuals keep contact.

Feeding

A carnivore, it eats fish, squid, and crustaceans. Groups may herd fish, and feeding techniques can differ strongly by region.

Reproduction

Females bear a single calf and nurse it for an extended period. Calves learn swimming, social behavior, and foraging methods within the group.

Notes

It is listed as Least Concern, but coastal populations can be affected by bycatch, noise, pollution, and boat strikes.