Details
Tursiops truncatus
The common bottlenose dolphin is a familiar, highly social dolphin of warm seas. Groups travel from coasts to offshore waters and navigate with sound.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It occurs in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, from bays, estuaries, and continental shelves to offshore waters. Productive feeding areas shape its movements.
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.
Diurnal and social, it forms fluid groups. Clicks support echolocation, while whistle-like calls help individuals keep contact.
A carnivore, it eats fish, squid, and crustaceans. Groups may herd fish, and feeding techniques can differ strongly by region.
Females bear a single calf and nurse it for an extended period. Calves learn swimming, social behavior, and foraging methods within the group.
It is listed as Least Concern, but coastal populations can be affected by bycatch, noise, pollution, and boat strikes.
