A dolphin is warm-blooded. Although they live in the water, they breathe using their lungs. They have to go to the surface to get air. The dolphins.

• A dolphin is warm-blooded. Although A dolphin is warm-blooded. Although they live in the water, they breathe they live in the water, they breathe using their lungs. They have to go to using their lungs. They have to go to the surface to get air. The dolphin’s the surface to get air. The dolphin’s skin is smooth, but it has tiny hairs. skin is smooth, but it has tiny hairs. The dolphin has live babies.The dolphin has live babies.

• A dolphin’s color is dark blue-gray to A dolphin’s color is dark blue-gray to brown-gray. The dolphin’s size is 12 feet brown-gray. The dolphin’s size is 12 feet long. It can sometimes weigh more than long. It can sometimes weigh more than 1,400 pounds. Dolphins have stream-lined 1,400 pounds. Dolphins have stream-lined bodies and a rounded head with a beak. A bodies and a rounded head with a beak. A dolphin has a melon shaped head. dolphin has a melon shaped head.

AppearanceAppearance

Dolphins breathe air at the surface of Dolphins breathe air at the surface of the water through a single blowhole the water through a single blowhole located near the top of the head. located near the top of the head. They need to breathe about every 2 They need to breathe about every 2 minutes, but can hold their breath for minutes, but can hold their breath for several minutes. several minutes.

FOODFOOD•Dolphin are hunters that fish Dolphin are hunters that fish

mostly hate. Dolphins eat fish, mostly hate. Dolphins eat fish, squid , crab, and seaweed. squid , crab, and seaweed. Dolphins have many pairs of Dolphins have many pairs of sharp pointed teeth in their sharp pointed teeth in their upper and lower jaws.upper and lower jaws.

Diagram of a DolphinDiagram of a Dolphin

Dolphin pictures

Habitat and RangeHabitat and Range

Dolphins live near the Dolphins live near the coast. They live in coast. They live in waters from Maine to waters from Maine to Florida. They like Florida. They like warm saltwater warm saltwater around the world. We around the world. We see many dolphins see many dolphins who love the warm who love the warm waters of the Gulf of waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico.

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

• Dolphins can dive down to Dolphins can dive down to more than 1,000 feet. They more than 1,000 feet. They can jump up to 20 feet out can jump up to 20 feet out of the water.of the water.

• They love to do tricks in the They love to do tricks in the water and are always fun to water and are always fun to watch. watch.

Bow Riding Bow Riding

• A bow rider is a dolphin that hangs A bow rider is a dolphin that hangs around the front of a boat or ship. around the front of a boat or ship. The dolphin rides the wave and surfs The dolphin rides the wave and surfs using the pressure created by the using the pressure created by the moving ship.moving ship.

Social GroupsSocial Groups

Dolphins live in small Dolphins live in small pods with up to 12 pods with up to 12 other dolphins. They other dolphins. They are very social are very social animals. They will animals. They will work together like a work together like a family. Dolphins live family. Dolphins live for about 25 years. for about 25 years.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the bottlenose dolphin.

•To learn more go to the library or check out the internet.