Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphins, with their robust bodies and large dorsal fins, stand out for their intelligence and intricate social structures. They’re particularly noted for their “smiles,” attributed to the shape of their mouths, making them among the most recognizable marine mammals.

Their behavior, ranging from playful interactions to sophisticated problem-solving, underscores their cognitive abilities. These dolphins form tightly-knit groups, demonstrating complex social behaviors such as cooperation in hunting and care for their young, reflecting their advanced social and cognitive skills in the marine ecosystem.

Quick facts

Length

Male: 3,8m

Female: 3,5m

Calf: 1,5m

Weight

Adults: 600 kg

Calves: 25 kg

Habits

Dive Time

1-5 min

Dive Depth

<1000m

Reproduction

40-50 years

Life Span:

12 months

Gestation period:

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Bottlenose dolphins exhibit highly social behavior, forming groups known as pods that typically consist of 2 to 15 members but can swell to over 1,000 individuals in offshore environments. This social structure allows for increased protection against predators and efficiency in foraging strategies, especially when hunting schooling fish. Their societies are characterized by a fission-fusion dynamic, meaning individuals form temporary groups that frequently change in size and composition, reflecting their adaptable and complex social interactions. This fluidity allows dolphins to meet different social and ecological needs, such as foraging, socializing, and protection.

Roxane Rambert | Bottlenose Dolphin Azores58

Dive sequence

@Georgina Cabayol

Behavior & Feeding

Socializing +

Bottlenose dolphins are known for their energetic behaviour, often seen jumping out of the water, porpoising, and slapping the surface of the water with their tail. They will ride the bow of any vessel, from a small speedboat to a large cargo or cruise ship.
Dolphins can call each other, not by name, but by whistles. As sound travels faster through water than through the air, bottlenose dolphins have distinctive whistles, called signature whistles, that they use to communicate their identity, much like a name, their location and, possibly, their emotional state. The animals use these whistles to associate or communicate with other individuals, but they can also communicate through touch.

Resting +

Bottlenose dolphins have a unique way of resting, which involves shutting down one half of their brain at a time, allowing them to continue swimming, breathing, and staying vigilant against predators even while they are resting. This behavior, known as unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, enables them to surface for air and avoid threats.

Foraging & Diet +

Bottlenose dolphins are generalist feeders, specialising within populations and among individuals. They feed on a wide variety of fishes, especially croaker, mackerel and mullet, cephalopods, and crustaceans (e.g., crabs and shrimp). An adult can consume 6.8-13.5 kg of food per day. Instead of chewing, the dolphins grab the fish with their teeth and then swallow it.
Bottlenose dolphins can thrive in many environments and feed on a variety of prey. Therefore, they use different techniques to pursue and capture prey. First and foremost, dolphins use echolocation, often known as sonar, to locate their prey. They may forage individually, but often work together as a team when hunting, especially when dealing with a large school of fish. In such cases, they coordinate to keep the school of fish together and take turns swimming through the school of fish to feed very efficiently.

These dolphins also feed in unusual ways: when they have the opportunity, they follow fishing boats to eat discarded animals or take captured fish in fishing nets.

Predators

Bottlenose dolphins face predation primarily from large shark species such as great white, tiger, bull, and dusky sharks. Killer whales also pose a threat, albeit less frequently. These predators target bottlenose dolphins due to their size and behavior, making them a significant challenge for dolphins in their natural habitats. The presence of these predators influences the behavior and social structure of bottlenose dolphin populations, encouraging them to form tight-knit groups as a defense mechanism. This dynamic underlines the complex interactions within marine ecosystems, where bottlenose dolphins must navigate both social and environmental pressures to survive.

https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/bottlenose-dolphin

Distribution & Movements

Bottlenose dolphins are renowned for their adaptability and widespread distribution, inhabiting tropical to temperate waters globally. Their presence spans from shallow coastal areas to the edges of continental shelves and includes oceanic islands. Remarkably versatile, they thrive in a range of marine and estuarine environments, venturing into river systems as well. This adaptability to diverse habitats underlines their ecological significance and highlights their ability to navigate and exploit a variety of marine environments for survival.

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

5-14 years
Males between 9 and 14 years and females between 5 and 13 years. This variability reflects their adaptable nature to different environmental conditions.

Gestation Period

12 months
This indicates the significant investment in each offspring, ensuring they are born well-developed and ready to thrive in their aquatic environment.

Number of Calves

One calf every 3 to 6 years
Demonstrates a strategy that prioritizes quality of offspring over quantity. This extended interbirth interval allows mothers to dedicate considerable time and resources to each calf’s development.

Suckling Period & Nursing

12 to 18 months
Is crucial for calf development, providing not only nutrition but also important social bonding and learning opportunities. Calves remain with their mothers for 3 to 6 years, gaining essential life skills.

Lifespan

40-50 years
Females potentially live beyond 50 years and males around 40 to 50 years. This longevity supports complex social structures and extensive learning periods for younger dolphins.

Mating Strategy

Polygamous
Without forming long-term pair bonds, emphasizing the importance of genetic diversity and social bonds within their communities.

Species in the Azores

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

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Blue Whale

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Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

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Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

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Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

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Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

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Balaenoptera acutorostrata

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Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

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Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

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Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

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Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

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Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

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Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

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Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Notable for their striking body patterns and acrobatic prowess.

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

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Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

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Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

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False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

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Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Sowerby’s Beaked Whales are elusive denizens of the North Atlantic, recognized by their slender beaks and distinctive forehead bulges.

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

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Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

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Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

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Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

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Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

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Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

View profile

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

View profile

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

View profile

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

View profile

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

View profile

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

View profile

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

View profile

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

View profile

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

View profile

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

View profile

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

View profile

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

View profile

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

View profile

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

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Whale Watching Azores Essentials

Explore, Love, and Protect: Unveiling the essence of Whale Watching in the Azores

More information

Explore Azores

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Quick facts

Length

Weight

Habits

Reproduction

Reproduction

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern <img width="21" height="26" class="graphics-design-i" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tooltip-more-info-futurismo.svg"> Common and widespread, low vulnerability.

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Dive sequence

Behavior & Feeding

Predators

Distribution & Movements

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

Gestation Period

Number of Calves

Suckling Period & Nursing

Lifespan

Mating Strategy

Species in the Azores

Sighting frequency

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Species

Departure Points

Dates

Related Scientific Articles

Catalão R. (2021): Photo-identification and residency patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in São Miguel, Azores

González, L. (2018): Spatio-temporal distribution of the order Cetacea in the Azores: relationship between biotic and abiotic variables

Pereira, A. (2021): Analysis of the social structure, group composition and association patterns in bottlenose dolphins in São Miguel island, Azores

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback Whale

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern

Common and widespread, low vulnerability.