The Bottlenose Dolphin

By Megan BerryMr. Buchmann 6

period

The Bottlenose Dolphin

• Common name: Bottlenose Dolphin

• Scientific name: Tursiops truncates

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/images/pic-bottlenose-dolphins.jpg

Characteristics• Size: Length on average: 11-13 feet (King)

• Weight on average: 330 -440 pounds (King)

• Physical Characteristics:

– Smooth, rubbery skin

– Grey/dark grey on it’s back, but white underneath

– Dorsal fin has no bones, only cartilage• Called Flukes• Has five different digits inside the fin, almost like a human hand

– The blowhole • What dolphins use to breathe through• Covered by a muscular flap to make it water proof• Located on the top of the head

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/images/pic-bottlenose-dolphins.jpg

Habitat•Bottlenose dolphins live in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.

•Bottlenose Dolphins prefer warm water

•10° to  32°C (50°-90° F).

•Usually limited to surface water

•Shallows where they can hunt their fish

•Dolphins move in groups - they are very social creatures

http://library.thinkquest.org/17963/images/large-species-T-truncatus-dist.jpg

Food and Hunting

http://www.allaboutyou.com/cm/allaboutyou/images/Rr/or_9fb63661121196971528630.jpg

Dolphins hunt fish with their many teeth. They hunt in packs, using echolocation to hunt their food

Breeding and Raising Calves

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/images/pic-bottlenose-dolphins.jpg

Dolphins and Humans

Fun Facts!

• Dolphins use echolocation to see underwater– They send out whistles and high pitched

sounds, and when the sounds bounce aback, the dolphins can see what is in front of them

Death of Dolphins and the Causes of them

http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/dead-dolphin-on-beach-a88ce5e48327634b_large.jpg

•Dolphins usually live for about 20 years

•Ways dolphins die:

• parasites

•suffocation from trash

•Predator attacks (sharks, and sometimes stingrays and killer whales)

•Human hunting

Works Cited• King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File Pittsburg, PA: International

Masters Publishers, 1997 • "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Habitat & Distribution."

Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.“• BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Diet & Eating Habits."

Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. • "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Physical Characteristics."

Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. • "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Adaptations for an Aquatic

Environment." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.

• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Longevity & Causes for Death." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.

• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Reproduction." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.

• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Birth & Care of Young."Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.

• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Scientific Classification." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.