The Habitat of Bottlenose Dolphins in Georgia

The bottlenose dolphin is short-beaked, stout and has a sloping forehead. The underparts of the dolphin are gray with a purplish hue. The color of the dolphin's underparts turn black shortly after death. The length of the bottlenose Dolphin rarely exceeds 75 mm. The sides of the dolphin are pale grey and the belly is white. The dolphin has a dorsal fin pectoral fin and flukes.

  1. Georgia

    • Georgia is a coastal state.

      The bottlenose dolphin enjoys the tropical waters off the coast of Georgia. The creature is a common sighting in the Gulf of Mexico in bays, estuaries and in shipping channels. The bottlenose dolphin is the only cetacean that has yielded useful data regarding population size and migration patterns in the Gulf of Mexico area. Aerial photos taken off the coast of Georgia has surveyed bottlenose dolphin populations as high as 45,000 in one herd.

    Two Types

    • Dolphins create family pods.

      There are two types of Bottlenose Dolphins the coastal dolphin and the offshore. Scientist differentiates between the two by skull and body measurements. The coastal Bottlenose Dolphin is more adapted to shallow warmer water. They have a smaller body with larger flippers allowing them to maneuver with more agility and to release body heat at a more rapid pace. The offshore dolphin adapts better to deeper cooler waters. Its blood is conducive to cooler temperatures and its larger body is able to conserve heat.

    Jekyll Island, Georgia

    • Jekyll Island is in the Gulf of Mexico aff the coast of Georgia.

      Jekyll Island, Georgia is a breeding ground for the Bottlenose Dolphin. The water's nutrients create a hardy feeding area and the water temperature is optimal for the coastal dolphin for most of the year. In ctober and November when the water temperatures cool the coastal bottlenose Ddolphin migrates south. The dolphin migrates to follow its food source as well as seeking warmer waters. Spring is the best time of year to watch the Bottlenose Dolphins around Jekyll Island. Sightings are visible 20 miles off shore. The lifespan of a dolphin is on average 45 years.

    Social Interaction

    • Dolphins travel in herds.

      The Bottlenose Dolphin is a social creature just like other dolphins. They travel in pods and fight each other for dominance within the pod hierarchy. The dolphin reaches full maturity between 6 and 8 years old and mature females give birth every few years. In one lifetime a female can give birth to 8 baby dolphins. A bottlenose Dcolphin pods has only a few males, more females and several baby dolphins. A pod rarely exceeds 15 dolphins. A herd of dolphins is when several pods join together.