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Bottlenose Dolphin Facts & Worksheets

Bottlenose dolphins are aquatic animals of the genus Tursiops. They are members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins that are found worldwide.

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Bottlenose dolphins are aquatic animals of the genus Tursiops. They are members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins that are found worldwide. Molecular research has conclusively demonstrated that the genus is home to two distinct species: the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin and the common bottlenose dolphin.

See the fact file below for more information on the Bottlenose Dolphin, or you can download our 26-page Bottlenose Dolphin worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DESCRIPTION

  • The bottlenose dolphin is common along Australia’s coastline and even sighted in Sydney‘s surf. The bottlenose dolphin is the most common dolphin spotted in British waters. 
  • These bottlenose dolphins, the largest in the world, can survive in our rather cold waters because of their massive size. The Moray Firth in Scotland, Cardigan Bay in Wales, and the beaches of Cornwall, Northumberland, and North Wales are great places for finding these marine creatures. They are highly social and have been observed traveling in groups of up to 15 individuals. They also enjoy jumping out of the water and will cheerfully approach boats.
  • The intelligence of bottlenose dolphins has been the subject of much research. After 20 years of parting ways, dolphins can still identify the distinctive whistles of particular dolphins they were associated with, giving them the most extended social memory of any nonhuman species. 

IDENTIFICATION

  • The bottlenose dolphin gets its name from its short, rounded snout that resembles a bottle or a melon. The prominent dorsal fin is hooked at the end and set halfway along the body. The body is gray-toned, with a paler gray tone along the flanks that gradually changes into an off-white belly. A blowhole sits atop its skull. Twelve-foot-long bottlenose dolphins can weigh as much as 400 pounds.
  • There are currently two recognized subspecies of bottlenose dolphins: the ‘inshore’ form and the ‘offshore’ form. Individual or small pods of bottlenose dolphins are common sightings near the coast. Keep your ear out for some loud breaches and splatting.

HABITAT

  • The bottlenose dolphin is widely distributed throughout the world’s tropical and temperate seas. Bottlenose dolphins inhabit open oceans and coastal waters. They live in or frequent coastal bays and other bodies of water. 
  • In some locations, inhabitants will stick to well-delineated territory along established coastlines. At the same time, others are aquatic and can be found far from shore, typically towards the edge of a continent’s shelf. This species can adapt to various environments more than any other marine mammal.
  • When they come across a school of fish, they coordinate their efforts such that the fish are directed toward the beach. They frequently pursue bottom-dwelling prey on their own. 
  • The bottlenose dolphin employs a technique known as “fish whacking,” in which it strikes a fish with its fluke and sometimes knocks it out of the water. An inherited feeding strategy, “strand feeding,” is practiced by bottlenose dolphins in the coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina. A pod will form a little whirlpool around a school of fish, effectively trapping the prey inside. 
  • The dolphins will then charge the school, pushing the fish into the mud flat with their bodies. The dolphins then eat the fish washed ashore on the beach as they crawl around on their bellies. Only at shallow tides does this occur.

ADAPTATION AND BEHAVIOR

  • Dolphins use echolocation to map their environments, locate prey, and communicate with one another. They can estimate the object’s distance and size by creating clicking noises and listening to the echo reflected from nearby objects. 
  • Collaborating as a pod, dolphins can herd schools of fish or squid into a central location before diving in for a meal.
  • The bottlenose dolphin is an impressive swimmer with its streamlined body and a top speed of 35 kilometers per hour.
  • Sharks, especially bull sharks, are among the most lethal threats to bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins are in danger from humans because of pollution and fishing gear used for fun.

Communication

  • Dolphins utilize echolocation to locate prey, maneuver, and communicate with one another. The noises can be anything from a click to a whistling sound. It’s thought that every dolphin has its distinctive whistle. When they exhale, they make a hissing or puffing sound from their blowholes.
  • The bottlenose dolphin uses whistles, body language, and short, pulsating sounds to convey information. Body language includes:
    • Butting heads.
    • Slapping tails on the water’s surface.
    • Even leaping out of the water.
  • Dolphins use sounds and body language to communicate with one another to warn of potential threats or to indicate the presence of food. Because they don’t have vocal cords, they use six air sacs around their blowhole to make noise. A narrow-band, frequency-modulated characteristic whistle distinguishes each species.
  • The most beautiful whistle sounds help dolphins maintain social bonds, especially between moms and young, and coordinate hunting efforts. When dolphins hear other animals heading in the same direction, they make loud noises to warn each other. 
  • The least dominant one usually retreats when conflict is detected.
  • Aside from these about 30 sounds used in other forms of communication, no “dolphin language” has been discovered despite being famously hypothesized by John C. Lilly in the 1950s. 
  • Two bottlenose dolphins (Akeakamai and Phoenix) were shown to understand an artificial language by Herman, Richards, and Wolz during a time of skepticism concerning animal language that followed Herbert Terrace’s critique.

Life Cycle

  • Baby bottlenose dolphins spend their first year nursing their mothers after they give birth to them in the water after a year of pregnancy. About four years pass while they’re still living with Mom. They have a lengthy life expectancy, with some individuals living up to 45 years.

Reproduction

  • Mating can take place at any time of the year. Females have one calf after a gestation period of around 12 months, once every three to six years. Calves are aquatic newborns. A female or male dolphin helps deliver their young by staying nearby the mother.
  • Often, this helping dolphin is the sole dolphin around the newborn calf. Newborn calves start drinking their mothers’ milk within a few hours after birth and continue for 18 months. Sexual maturity occurs between the ages of 5 and 12 for females and 10 and 12 for males. The bottlenose dolphin has an average lifespan of 20–25 years; however, some have been recorded to live as long as 40.

Bottlenose Dolphin Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Bottlenose Dolphin across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching students about the Bottlenose Dolphin. They are members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins that are found worldwide. Molecular research has conclusively demonstrated that the genus is home to two distinct species: the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin and the common bottlenose dolphin.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  1. Bottlenose Dolphin Facts
  2. The Bottlenose Dolphin
  3. Body Parts
  4. Dolphin Puzzle
  5. Lawmaking
  6. Dolphins In Captivity
  7. Guess What?
  8. Describe It
  9. A Mammal’s Meal
  10. Protect and Conserve
  11. Virtual Discussion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bottlenose dolphin?

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a species of marine mammal belonging to the family Delphinidae. They are known for their distinctive beak-like snout, robust body, and playful behavior. Bottlenose dolphins are widely distributed and can be found in oceans and coastal waters around the world.

What is the size of a typical bottlenose dolphin?

Adult bottlenose dolphins can reach lengths between 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.7 meters) and weigh between 300 to 1,400 pounds (136 to 635 kilograms). Males are generally larger and heavier than females.

What do bottlenose dolphins eat?

Bottlenose dolphins are carnivores, and their diet primarily consists of fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are skilled hunters and use their echolocation abilities to locate prey underwater, then use their sharp teeth to catch and consume their food.

Where do bottlenose dolphins live?

Bottlenose dolphins inhabit a wide range of marine environments, including temperate and tropical oceans, as well as coastal areas and estuaries. They can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

How intelligent are bottlenose dolphins?

Bottlenose dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals. They exhibit complex social behaviors and are known for their problem-solving abilities. They have a well-developed brain and display signs of self-awareness. Dolphins are also capable of using tools, such as sponges, to protect their snouts while foraging for food on the ocean floor. Their intelligence and adaptability have made them a focus of study in marine research and captive environments.

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Link will appear as Bottlenose Dolphin Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 30, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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