Bottlenose DolphinsBottlenose Dolphins

By Gianna BolognaBy Gianna Bologna

Their BodyTheir Body

• The average length of a full grown The average length of a full grown dolphin is 12 feetdolphin is 12 feet

• The average weight of a full grown The average weight of a full grown dolphin is 400-500 poundsdolphin is 400-500 pounds

• A bottle nose dolphin has 88- 260 teethA bottle nose dolphin has 88- 260 teeth

• At birth, bottlenose dolphins are 42 to At birth, bottlenose dolphins are 42 to 52 inches long and weigh about 44 52 inches long and weigh about 44 poundspounds

Their Body (continued)Their Body (continued)

““Bottlenose Dolphins have stream-Bottlenose Dolphins have stream-lined bodies and a rounded head with lined bodies and a rounded head with a distinctive beak”a distinctive beak”““They have a tall, sickle-shaped dorsal They have a tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and broad, slightly pointed fin and broad, slightly pointed flippers”flippers” Their upper bodies are purplish grayTheir upper bodies are purplish grayThe color of the sides of the dolphin is The color of the sides of the dolphin is pale gray and the belly is whitepale gray and the belly is white

Bottlenose DolphinsBottlenose Dolphins

Food/DietFood/Diet

Bottlenose Dolphins fish near the surfaceBottlenose Dolphins fish near the surfaceNewborns will drink their mothers milk Newborns will drink their mothers milk while the “aunt” guards themwhile the “aunt” guards themThey will eat any type of fish or squidThey will eat any type of fish or squidIn order to find food they use echolocationIn order to find food they use echolocationWith echolocation they can “see” the size, With echolocation they can “see” the size, shape, distance, speed, direction, and shape, distance, speed, direction, and internal structureinternal structureAdults eat 15-20 pounds of food a dayAdults eat 15-20 pounds of food a day

PredatorsPredators

Bottlenose dolphins don’t have many Bottlenose dolphins don’t have many predators.predators.

Some Predators are:Some Predators are:

Sharks Sharks (tiger sharks, dusky sharks dusky sharks and bull sharks) and bull sharks)

And OrcasAnd Orcas

Social GroupsSocial Groups

Bottlenose dolphins live in small pods Bottlenose dolphins live in small pods of up to 12of up to 12They don’t stay with the same pod all They don’t stay with the same pod all the time, they swim away when they the time, they swim away when they want towant toSome stray but most stay in a group Some stray but most stay in a group of some sort (not always the same)of some sort (not always the same)Most dolphins stay in one pod or Most dolphins stay in one pod or another for safety reasonsanother for safety reasons

More FactsMore Facts

Some scientists believe that Some scientists believe that bottlenose dolphins are capable of bottlenose dolphins are capable of complex communication skillscomplex communication skills

They can also rescue people from They can also rescue people from dangerdanger

BibliographyBibliography

Georgia Museum of Natural History & Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Georgia Museum of Natural History & Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Mammal specieMammal specie                     s s. 02 May 2000. 18 Feb 2009. . 02 May 2000. 18 Feb 2009.

http://dromus.nhm.uga.edu/~GMNH/gawildlife/index.php?page=sphttp://dromus.nhm.uga.edu/~GMNH/gawildlife/index.php?page=sp                     eciespages/list_species&class=Mammalia eciespages/list_species&class=Mammalia

Information About Dolphins Packet. Information About Dolphins Packet. Given in classGiven in class

Knight, J.D., Sea and Sky. Knight, J.D., Sea and Sky. Reef LifeReef Life. 19 Feb 2009. <. 19 Feb 2009. <http://www.seasky.org/reeflife/sea2.hhttp://www.seasky.org/reeflife/sea2.h                     tml tml>. >.

Col, Jeananda. Enchanted Learning. http://www.EnchantedLearning.com 1996Col, Jeananda. Enchanted Learning. http://www.EnchantedLearning.com 1996

““Dolphins”. Dolphins”. Dolphin pictures, Facts, Fun Activities and Posters all at dolphinkind.com. Dolphin pictures, Facts, Fun Activities and Posters all at dolphinkind.com. http://www.dolphinkind.com/index.htmlhttp://www.dolphinkind.com/index.html (2-21-09). (2-21-09).