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Dolphin Facts |
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Distribution |
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Dolphins are found in temperate waters all over the world, making them the most prolific cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise) in the world's oceans. The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is found throughout the Atlantic Ocean, and if you see dorsal fins from the beach, you are most likely seeing this species. |
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Social Groupings |
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Pods are primarily composed of females and their calves, but occasionally adult males are present as well. Other groups of pre-adult males are called bachelor pods. Pods are fluid and members may move in and out throughout their lives, contradictory to the popular belief that dolphin pods are one family unit. |
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Reproduction |
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The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin's gestation period is 52-54 weeks, which means that this species spends around a year of its life pregnant. Calves average 3 feet (105 cm) in length at birth and may weigh between 30-45 pounds (13-20 kg). A calf will nurse from its mother for six months to two years, and during this time the calf is solely dependent on its mother, as fathers are not present after conception. |
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| Diet |
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Atlantic bottlenose dolphins eat fish, squid and other invertebrates. An adult dolphin may eat 15-50 pounds (7-23 kg) of food each day. Healthy diets are important for the production of a blubber layer, which helps keep the animal warm in cooler waters. Dolphins swallow their food whole, and their stomach has three chambers, which aids their digestion. |
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| Conservation |
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Though Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are not endangered, they do suffer from negative interactions with people. Discarded trash in our oceans can be swallowed by or can become tangled around the dolphin. Feeding wild dolphins is illegal and interacting with them can be dangerous to both the person and the animals involved. According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, positive interactions with dolphins at professional facilities such as Marineland Dolphin Adventure can be a safe and wonderful way to increase people's knowledge and compassion for these amazing animals without negatively impacting wild populations. Read more... |
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Anatomy |
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| Weight: 300-600 lbs (135-270 kg) Length: 6-9 ft (2-3 m) |
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- Blowhole: Located on top of the dolphin's head, the blowhole allows the animal to take a breath without stopping or changing position.
- Dorsal Fin: Located on the dolphin's back, this fin aids with regulating body temperature and providing stability. It is made entirely of fibrous connective tissue with no bones or muscle in it, similar to a human's nose or ear.
- Pectoral Flippers: The two flippers on the side of the dolphin's body are used for steering, turning, stopping and backing up. These flippers have an internal bone structure similar to that of a human hand.
- Peduncle: The muscular area from the dolphin's dorsal fin to tail flukes is used as the "powerhouse" for swimming
- Rostrum: The dolphin's mouth containing the teeth and serving as the receiver for returning echolocation signals is referred to as the rostrum.
- Tail Flukes: Each lobe of the dolphin's tail which propels the dolphin to speeds of up to 17 mph (27 kph) and up to three times its own body length out of the water
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Fun Facts |
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- Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have 72-104 teeth, but never chew their food!
- Dolphins don't make any noises with their mouth, and in fact, they don't even have vocal cords. All sounds come through the dolphin's blowhole!
- A dolphin uses its lower jaw and teeth as an antenna!
- Echolocation allows dolphins to use sound to "see" underwater. In fact, a dolphin can tell which direction a scuba diver is facing from a distance of one football field away!
- The average lifespan of an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is 25-30 years, but Marineland is home to the oldest dolphin born in human care. Nellie was born here on February 27, 1953, making her 59 years old!
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Explore the World of Dolphins!
Still have questions? Contact the Marineland Education Department at education@marineland.net. |
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