A bottlenose dolphin swimming in clear blue water
Photo: NASA · Public domain
Mammal

Bottlenose Dolphin Facts

Tursiops truncatus

MammalTemperate and tropical oceansCarnivore

Common bottlenose dolphins are social marine mammals found in warm and temperate seas. They use whistles, body language, and echolocation to communicate and navigate.

Habitat
Marine
Diet
Fish, squid, and crustaceans
Lifespan
40–60 years

Bottlenose Dolphin Facts at a Glance

Common bottlenose dolphins are social marine mammals found in warm and temperate seas. They use whistles, body language, and echolocation to communicate and navigate.

It belongs to the family Delphinidae in the order Artiodactyla. This profile is designed as a concise starting point; source links below support further reading.

Bottlenose Dolphin Habitat

Bottlenose Dolphins live in Marine and Coastal habitats across Temperate and tropical oceans. Their range depends on places that provide suitable food, shelter, and conditions for raising young.

What Do Bottlenose Dolphins Eat?

Bottlenose Dolphins are carnivore animals. Their diet includes Fish, squid, and crustaceans, and the food available in their habitat shapes how they find, hunt, or forage for meals.

Bottlenose Dolphin Lifespan, Size, and Weight

A bottlenose dolphin typically lives for 40–60 years. Adults measure about 200–400 cm and weigh around 150–650 kg; these ranges can vary with sex, age, habitat, and access to food.

Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation Status

Bottlenose Dolphin is listed here as Least Concern. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.

Quick facts

Region
Temperate and tropical oceans
Habitat
Marine, Coastal
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
40–60 years
Size
200–400 cm
Weight
150–650 kg

Fun facts

  • Each dolphin develops a distinctive signature whistle used like a name.
  • Echolocation clicks reveal the distance and shape of nearby objects.
  • Some populations use sponges to protect their snouts while foraging.
  • They surface voluntarily to breathe through a single blowhole.

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Sources and image credit

Animal facts are reviewed against the references below. The photograph remains available under its linked license.