Education

Distribution  
Bottlenose dolphins are found in temperate waters all over the world, thus making them the most prolific cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise). 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.

Social Groupings		  
Pods are primarily composed of females and their calves, but occasionally adult males are present as well. Other groups of sub-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.

Reproduction		  
The bottlenose dolphin's gestation period (how long they are pregnant) is 52-54 weeks. Calves average 3 _ feet (105 cm) in length at birth and may weigh 30-45 pounds (13-20 kg). A calf will nurse from its mother for six months to two years, using its tongue to form a water tight seal while the mother squirts rich milk into its mouth. During this time the calf is solely dependent on its mother as its father has not been present since conception.

Anatomy		  

Weight: 300-600 lbs (135-270 kg) Length: 6-9 ft (2-3 m)

  • Blowhole: Located on top of the dolphin's head allowing 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 our nose or ear

  • Pectoral Flippers: The two flippers on the side of the dolphin's body 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 used as the "powerhouse" for swimming

  • Rostrum: The dolphin's mouth containing the teeth and serving as the receiver for returning echolocation signals

  • Tail Flukes: Each lobe of the dolphin's tail which propels the dolphin to speeds of 17 mph (27 kph) and up to three times its own body length out of the water

Diet		  
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 to keep the animal warm in cool waters. Dolphins swallow their food whole and their three chambered stomach aids with digestion.

Conservation		  
Though 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's Dolphin Conservation Center can be a safe and wonderful way to increase people's knowledge and compassion for these amazing animals without negatively impacting wild populations.