Photo: NASA · Image source ·Public domain
Animal profile · Other aquatic life · dolphin
Common bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
The common bottlenose dolphin is a highly social marine mammal found in coastal and offshore waters. It uses echolocation, body language, and learned behaviors to find prey and coordinate with companions.
Not a fish · an aquatic neighborWater
Saltwater + Brackish
Coastal bays, estuaries, continental shelves, and offshore ocean waters.
Temperature
Range not established
A dependable species-specific wild temperature range was not established from the reviewed sources.
Size
Coastal adults commonly 1.8–2.7 m (6–9 ft) long
About as long as a small car.
Lifespan
Often 40–60 years, depending on population
Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.
01 · Signature adaptation
What does it do?
It lives in flexible social groups called pods and may cooperate while feeding. Individuals communicate with whistles, clicks, postures, and physical contact.
02 · Home coordinates
Where does it live?
Warm and temperate coastal and offshore waters worldwide.
Regions: Atlantic Ocean · Pacific Ocean · Indian Ocean · Mediterranean Sea
03 · The menu
What does it eat?
It hunts individually and cooperatively, using echolocation and coordinated herding techniques.
Carnivore: fish, squid, crustaceans.
04 · Remember this
Two wow facts
Sound-powered vision
Echolocation clicks help it locate prey and objects when visibility is poor.
Sources [1] [2]
Team hunter
Groups may herd fish together before taking turns feeding.
Sources [1]