Bottle-nosed Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottle-nosed Dolphins are highly intelligent and curious mammals that are often used in aquarium shows. These dolphins follow fishing boats to feed on the fish that are thrown back; they have even been known to approach swimmers. Like bats, they locate prey using echolocation. Porpoises, though similar to dolphins, are much smaller and are seen less often in North American waters.

Look For : A friendly dolphin with a wide back fin. Dark gray back, light gray on the sides.

Length : Body up to 12' long; up to 1,400 lb.

Habitat : Shallow near-shore waters, bays, and river mouths.

Range : In Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Venezuela, including Gulf of Mexico. In Pacific from California to the tropics.