Mammal · GBIF taxon 2440447
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatusAlso known as Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin
Common bottlenose dolphins are highly social marine mammals that travel in pods, using sophisticated echolocation clicks and whistle vocalizations to navigate and coordinate hunts. Coastal populations often work together to herd fish onto mudbanks or into shallow waters, while offshore pods dive deep to pursue squid and benthic prey. Females nurse single calves for up to two years, passing down complex hunting strategies through generations.
MarineIntelligentMammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mullet
- Squid
- Croaker
Predators
- Killer Whale
- Great White Shark
- Tiger Shark
ThreatsBycatch, marine pollution, acoustic disturbance, habitat loss
HabitatsCoastal waters, estuaries, bays, open ocean
Life span40–60 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCetacea
- FamilyDelphinidae
- GenusTursiops
- SpeciesTursiops truncatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Wild dolphins are large, powerful animals that may bite or strike if approached too closely.
- Why it is dangerous
- Powerful flukes and sharp teeth can inflict severe blunt force trauma or bite wounds during unpredictable wild encounters.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by a robust gray body, short thick snout, and a tall curved dorsal fin.
- What to do
- Observe from vessels at a safe distance, never attempting to swim with, touch, or feed wild individuals.
Responsible observation
- Keep your distance: Maintain at least 50 meters distance when viewing dolphins from boats or kayaks.
- Never feed: Hand-feeding wild dolphins disrupts natural hunting behaviors and is illegal in many regions.
- Watch for surface signs: Look for breaching, tail slapping, and dorsal fins slicing through the water.
Coastal Neighbor user:takoradee / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
Pelagic Companion (c) Jorge Herreros de Lartundo, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jorge Herreros de Lartundo · cc-by
Predator (c) Martín Acosta Albarracín, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Martín Acosta Albarracín · cc-by
Close Relative (c) טל שמע, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Related Family Wanax01 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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