Facts on Bottle Nose Dolphins

Bottlenose dolphins often star in aquarium shows, to the delight of visitors. Bottlenose dolphins can be trained to perform tricks and have mouths that appear to be in a permanent smile.

  1. Environments

    • Bottlenose dolphins tend to prefer warm waters throughout the world. The oceans surrounding tropical areas are home to most bottlenose dolphins and the dolphins can be seen in locations such as bays, harbors and lagoons. Some dolphins may migrate to other nearby areas of their home ocean, while others have a limited home range.

    Life

    • The average bottlenose dolphin will live between 45 and 50 years. The dolphins average from 8 to 14 feet in length and may reach a weight of over 1,400 pounds; male dolphins generally significantly outweigh females. The dolphins can reach out of water heights of up to 16 feet, and have been seen landing on either their backs or their sides after leaping from the water.

    Reproduction

    • In order to survive, bottlenose dolphins feed on a number of fish from the ocean; they may also feed on either squid or shrimp. Male bottlenose dolphins have been known to reach their sexual maturity at approximately 10 years, while the females may reach maturity between 5 and 10 years. Female bottlenose dolphins carry their calf for 12 months, followed by from 12 to 18 months of nursing. Calves then stay with their mothers for up to six years in order to learn survival skills before going out on their own.