Bottlenose dolphins are some of the most wonderful creatures in the sea.
People see them as cute, friendly, and talented animals. Their charisma is sure to leave anyone in awe. Having been around these dolphins, Sunshine Scenic Tours knows interesting things about them.
Aside from their majestic jumps and tricks, these swimmers’ intelligence catches the attention of many — kids and adults alike. Join us as we dive deeper into the lives of our favorite sea performers here!
Through the Looking Glass: An Overview
Tursiops truncatus or bottlenose dolphins are the most popular dolphins for the majority of the population. They have the natural charm and ability to adapt and coexist with humans. These dolphins live in almost any body of water — gulfs, harbors, bays, estuaries, and tropical waters. They also dominate shows, movies, and television appearances.
These water wonders are classified within the Delphinidae family. Because they live near the shores and they have an innate curiosity about humankind, they’re the most-studied members of their family. However, this puts them at a greater risk for human-related injuries and deaths.
The bottlenose is commonly seen from small boats or off the shore. They are unmistakable as they are the largest among beaked dolphins. The colors of their sides and back are dark gray, which fades into a pinkish-white in their belly. Bottlenose is vulnerable to various threats and stressors, such as:
- Pollution
- Biotoxins
- Disease
- Habitat Alteration (e.g., oil spills, recreational fishing, vessel strikes, and freshwater incursions)
Although they’re not part of the threatened or endangered species in the United States, they are under the protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Intelligence and Echolocation
In their habitat, the bottlenose can reach a speed of over 18 miles in an hour. To breathe, they surface two to three times every minute. They travel in groups and communicate in their own unique way. They have different squeaks and whistles to send messages to their family. When any member of the pod gets injured, the dolphins come together to help the injured member reach the surface.
Such situations show how intelligent they are. Apart from that, dolphins track their prey through echolocation. Dolphins make around 1,000 clicking noises every second, which travel underwater. When the sounds hit objects, the sounds travel back to the dolphins’ senders. This will reveal the location, shape, and size of their prey.
Behavior
The behavior of bottlenose dolphins is interesting. They’re known for traveling in groups, but they can also travel alone. They just meet and reform later. Dolphins often travel in a consistent direction with a persistent movement. The behavior of bottlenose dolphins when resting involves methodical breathing, slow movement, and tight group formations.
The groups are usually separated according to sex and age. Their pods are composed of two to twenty-five dolphins. The behavior of bottlenose dolphins includes the acknowledgement of hierarchy among their group. Their rank in the group may be determined by their feeding order, positioning, or formation in the subgroup. Their behavior also includes gentle body contact, playing, and breeding.
Diet
“What do bottlenose dolphins eat?” you might be wondering. As they are flexible creatures, they thrive in various environments. They feed on crabs, shrimp, squids, and fish. They either hunt for food alone or in groups.
They have different techniques for feeding, including the following:
- Echolocation
- Trapping schools of fish against sea walls or sand bars
- Herding fish into groups, then charging one by one to feed
Dolphins don’t chew their food. They use their mouth to grip the fish. They swallow the fish whole — head first — to avoid getting the spines caught in their throats.
Lifespan and Reproduction
Now that you know the answer to “what do bottlenose dolphins eat?” we’ll move on to “how long do bottlenose dolphins live?” Their lifespan is usually around 40 years. More often than not, female dolphins outlive males — living up to 60 years or more. Female dolphins also reach sexual maturity earlier than males.
They usually start to reproduce between 5 to 15 years old. The age varies depending on their population. The females carry for 12 months, and on average, give birth every 3 to 6 years. Once they’re born, they nurse for around 20 months and stay with their mothers for 3 to 6 years.
Habitat
“Where do bottlenose dolphins live?” you might be thinking. They’re usually found in temperate and tropical waters across the world. As previously mentioned, they inhabit nearshore coastal waters, bays, harbors, deeper waters over the continental shelf, and in the open ocean.
See Dolphins Up Close at Sunshine Scenic Tours
There’s no need to go far if you want to see bottlenose dolphins up close.
Sunshine Scenic Tours provides a memorable sunset dolphin cruise in St. Pete Beach, FL. Learn more about these social animals, capture photos, and have the time of your life on our cruise. Book a spot for you and your loved ones today!
