Common Bottlenose Dolphin

 
 
bottlenose dolphin swimming in Belize
© naturepl.com / Doug Perrine / WWF

The bottlenose dolphin is recognized today as two distinct species—the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. The common bottlenose dolphin can be found around the world in tropical and temperate oceans. They live in groups numbering about a dozen individuals, and learn at an early age the complex social skills they need to survive. Dolphins live off fish, and they work cooperatively to herd their prey to the surface for easier feeding. Because they live so close to the shore, they are threatened by bycatch, coastal development and environmental degradation.

  • STATUS:
    Least Concern
  • POPULATION:
    600,000
  • SCIENTIFIC NAME:
    Tursiops truncates