Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

 

Synonyms: Delphinus truncatus, Tursiops nuuanu, Bottlenose Dolphin

 

 

Tursiops truncatus occurs in the temperate, subtropical and tropical oceans worldwide (Map), including some mostly enclosed seas (e.g., the Mediterranean, Black, and Red seas); it is found in coastal, shelf, and oceanic waters, and also large, estuarine rivers. These dolphins are light to dark gray in color, with a short and well-defined snout, and a tall, curved dorsal fin; 2.2-4 in length, and weighs 150-500 kg. They live in small pods of 5-15 individuals, but sometimes observed on groups over 100. Polygamous. Females bear a calf every 3-6 years. The life expectancy in the wild is 15-17 years, but up to 50 years in captivity. T. truncatus feeds on small fish and squid; often cooperates when hunting in groups, e.g., when driving fish onto the shore (strand-feeding). The global population assessed at 600,000-750,000. Hunted in Japan and the Faroe Islands, and taken as a bycatch elsewhere.

 

		D26628 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Bow-riding off Galveston Texas, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26635 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Bow-riding off Galveston Texas, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26727 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52469 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) off North Bimini, the Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52708 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Breaching off North Bimini The Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		26432 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Galveston, Texas, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26719 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26630 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Bow-riding off Galveston Texas, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26730 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52707 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) off North Bimini, the Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26724 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26722 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D26714 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		N0311202 Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Texas State Aquarium, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved

 

		D52488 Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off North Bimini, the Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52488 Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off North Bimini, the Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved

 

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