Basic information
Bottlenose dolphins belong to the scientific family Delphinidae, which includes all oceanic dolphins!
Dolphins
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Facts About Dolphins
A group of dolphins is called a pod, and they can have anywhere from 2 to 30 members in their family group!
Bottlenose dolphins are mammals, just like you, which means they breathe air and feed their babies milk!
The scientific name for bottlenose dolphins is Tursiops truncatus. The name refers to their dolphin-like appearance and their slightly shortened snout, which helps them catch fish and explore the ocean!
Male dolphins are called bulls, females are called cows, and babies are called calves!
Physical Characteristics
An adult bottlenose dolphin can grow as long as a small car (between 10 to 14 feet) and weigh as much as 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms)!
A dolphin’s skin is so smooth that it reduces drag in the water, making them super-fast swimmers!
Dolphins can swim at speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) — that’s faster than an Olympic swimmer!
A dolphin’s tail fin, called a fluke, is wide and super strong! It helps them swim fast and jump high out of the water, even though it’s not quite as wide as their whole body.
Unlike fish scales, a dolphin’s skin is completely smooth and feels like a wet rubber inner tube!
Dolphins have between 80 to 100 sharp teeth, but they don’t use them to chew — they swallow their food whole!
A dolphin’s blowhole is actually its nose, which has moved to the top of its head through millions of years of evolution!
The dorsal fin on a dolphin’s back acts like a keel on a boat, helping them stay stable while swimming!
Each dolphin has unique markings and scars on their dorsal fin, just like how humans have unique fingerprints!
A dolphin’s eyes can move independently of each other, allowing them to look in different directions at the same time!
Behavior & Intelligence
Dolphins sleep by resting one half of their brain at a time, while the other half stays alert for danger!
Each dolphin has its own unique whistle that acts like a name, which they use to call to each other!
Dolphins can remember other dolphins they met 20 years ago just by hearing their special whistle!
Dolphins teach their children special hunting techniques, passing down knowledge through generations!
Dolphins work together to hunt fish by creating mud rings that trap their prey!
Dolphins have been observed using tools, like wearing sponges on their snouts to protect them while hunting on rocky sea floors!
Dolphins can learn to understand over 100 different words and commands!
Young dolphins spend 3 to 8 years learning from their mothers before becoming fully independent!
Dolphins play with seaweed and create bubble rings for fun, showing they enjoy playtime just like humans do!
Dolphins help sick or injured pod members by pushing them to the surface to breathe!
Dolphins can dive up to 1,000 feet (305 meters) deep, but usually stay in waters less than 150 feet (46 meters) deep!
A dolphin can hold its breath for up to 7 minutes while diving for food, but they usually come up for air every 2 to 5 minutes!
Dolphins use echolocation to find food and navigate, sending out sound waves that bounce off objects like natural sonar!
The sound waves dolphins use for echolocation can travel 4 times faster in water than in air!
Dolphins can hear sounds from up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) away underwater!
Dolphins work together to protect their pod from sharks by swimming in tight circles and ramming the predator with their snouts!
A dolphin’s skin regenerates every 2–3 hours, helping them stay smooth and hydrodynamic!
Dolphins can jump up to 15 feet (457 centimeters) out of the water, which helps them conserve energy while swimming long distances!
Life Cycle
Baby dolphins are born tail-first to prevent drowning during birth!
A baby dolphin is born after spending 12 months growing inside its mother!
Newborn dolphins are about 3–4 feet long and weigh around 40 pounds (8 kilogram) — about the size of a seven-year-old child!
Baby dolphins nurse underwater but have special muscles that lock onto their mother’s nipples so they don’t let go!
Mother dolphins produce milk that is as thick as yogurt and contains 33% fat to help babies grow quickly!
Baby dolphins drink about 3 gallons (11 liters) of milk each day — that’s like drinking 48 glasses of milk!
A baby dolphin stays with its mother for between 3–6 years, learning everything it needs to know about being a dolphin!
Dolphins can live up to 60 years in the wild — that’s as long as some grandparents!
Female dolphins usually have one baby every 3-6 years throughout their adult life!
Baby dolphins learn to swim to the surface for air within seconds of being born!
Young dolphins begin catching their own fish when they are around 6 months old but continue nursing for up to 2 years!
Mother dolphins don’t sleep for the first few weeks after giving birth so they can watch over their babies!
Diet & Feeding
An adult dolphin eats about 30 pounds (14 kilogram) of fish every day — that’s like eating 120 hamburgers!
Dolphins swallow fish head-first to avoid getting scratched by fins going down their throat!
Dolphins don’t drink water from the ocean — they get all the water they need from the fish they eat!
A hunting dolphin can use its echolocation to find fish hiding under the sand!
