The Bottlenose Dolphin By Megan Berry Mr. Buchmann 6 period
Jan 13, 2015
The Bottlenose Dolphin
By Megan BerryMr. Buchmann 6
period
The Bottlenose Dolphin
• Common name: Bottlenose Dolphin
• Scientific name: Tursiops truncates
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/images/pic-bottlenose-dolphins.jpg
Characteristics• Size: Length on average: 11-13 feet (King)
• Weight on average: 330 -440 pounds (King)
• Physical Characteristics:
– Smooth, rubbery skin
– Grey/dark grey on it’s back, but white underneath
– Dorsal fin has no bones, only cartilage
• Called Flukes
• Has five different digits inside the fin, almost like a human hand
– The blowhole
• What dolphins use to breathe through
• Covered by a muscular flap to make it water proof
• Located on the top of the head
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/images/pic-bottlenose-dolphins.jpg
Habitat•Bottlenose dolphins live in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.
•Bottlenose Dolphins prefer warm water
•10° to 32°C (50°-90° F).
•Usually limited to surface water
•Shallows where they can hunt their fish
•Dolphins move in groups - they are very social creatures
http://library.thinkquest.org/17963/images/large-species-T-truncatus-dist.jpg
Food and Hunting
http://www.allaboutyou.com/cm/allaboutyou/images/Rr/or_9fb63661121196971528630.jpg
Breeding and Raising Calves
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/images/pic-bottlenose-dolphins.jpg
Dolphins and Humans• The toxins in waters and dolphin tissues, and death rates
– Exacerbated and created by the heavy boat traffic, habitat destruction, and pollution
• Many establishments where dolphins are for recreational purposes, as well as somewhat educational.
• Theme parks express the education about the natural lifestyle of dolphins and bring awareness to the mistreatment of these intelligent creatures.
• Dolphins have been hunted for food, clothing, and fertilizers
• Peru, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Japan to this day
• Dolphins can get drowned by fishing nets and fishing gear.
Fun Facts!
• Dolphins use echolocation to see underwater– They send out whistles and high pitched sounds, and
when the sounds bounce back, the dolphins can see what is in front of them
– They use this for communication as well as hunting for fish and other creatures
• Dolphins spend 33% of their day sleeping– When they sleep, they only sleep with one half of their
brain.
Death of Dolphins and the Causes of them
http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/dead-dolphin-on-beach-a88ce5e48327634b_large.jpg
•Dolphins usually live for about 20 years
•Ways dolphins die:
• parasites
•suffocation from trash
•Predator attacks (sharks, and sometimes stingrays and killer whales)
•Human hunting
Works Cited• King, Judith: Wildlife Fact File Pittsburg, PA: International
Masters Publishers, 1997 • "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Habitat & Distribution."
Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.“• BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Diet & Eating Habits."
Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. • "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Physical Characteristics."
Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. • "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Adaptations for an Aquatic
Environment." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.
• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Longevity & Causes for Death." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.
• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Reproduction." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.
• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Birth & Care of Young."Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.
• "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Scientific Classification." Seaworld.com/animal-info.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.