Animal Facts

Bottlenose Dolphins are probably the most recognizable of ocean creatures. They're graceful and playful in the water, leaping through the waves. Dolphins can swim at speeds over 18 mph but typically surface to breathe a couple times a minute. They travel in social groups called pods, which can range from 2 to 20 animals, sometimes even more.

Bottlenose dolphins are so named for their short beak. Their bodies are sleek, usually light to slate gray with lighter undersides. They can be 8-12 feet in length, with males larger than females. These dolphins eat a variety of food, mostly fish but will eat squid and crabs. Echolocation is used to track prey, by making hundreds of clicking noises per second and judging the distance and size of the object by the echoes that bounce back to them. They also sometimes coordinate their hunting, working together to corner fish to feed on.

Baby dolphins are born after a pregnancy of 12 months and nurse for 12-18 months. Calving can occur at any time of the year, but there are peaks in spring and fall. The calves stay with their mothers for 3 years or more, learning how to fish and survive. Dolphins are more plentiful in some areas of the world's oceans than others, but overall their numbers seem steady.