Facts about Bottlenose Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins are one of our 4 cetacean species residing in the Azores. That's why we can see these dolphins all year round. They are very social animals and live in groups that can be made up of a few dozen individuals to hundreds!
They are one of the largest species of dolphins. Adult males can reach 4 meters in length and weigh between 500kg and 600kg in weight.
Bottlenose dolphins are gray in body but their underside is white but can turn pink during mating season.
It is one of the best known species of dolphin. In the famous movie “Flipper” the protagonist is a bottlenose dolphin. It is also, unfortunately, the most common species to be seen in zoos around the world as it is a very intelligent and fast-learning animal.
Females are sexually mature between 6-12 years of age and males between 10-12 years. The gestation period is 12 months with one calf at a time.
Bottlenose dolphins belong to the group of toothed cetaceans and their diet consists mainly of different species of fish, but they can also feed on squid and crustaceans. To capture their prey they use echolocation, which is like natural sonar.
They emit a series of “clicks” through an organ they have in their heads. Then they amplify and direct these “clicks” with the melon, which is an accumulation of fat that they have on their heads. When the sound hits an object in the water, it comes back to them as an echo. They pick up this echo with their lower jaw and send that information to the inner ear. This way they can determine the location and size of their prey. This system is so accurate that they can still perceive the texture of objects underwater.
In addition to using echolocation when hunting, they also work in packs to hunt. When they catch a fish ball, they surround the fish ball and bring it closer to the surface so it is easier for them to catch the fish.
Bottlenose dolphins not only use sound to help them hunt, but also to communicate with other animals of the same species. In addition, they use their body to communicate, making leaps and beating their tails against the water.
Within the same species, it is possible to distinguish 2 populations: the coastal population, which are smaller and with longer fins, and the oceanic population, are larger.
They are not great divers and can usually dive for 3-4 min but can stay under water for more than 12 min.
Bottlenose dolphin populations face several threats to their existence, such as accidental capture. Furthermore, threats such as pollution and degradation of their habitats are of great concern as well.
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