Here are some general questions and their answers to help the outreach learn more about Bottlenose Dolphins.
How long is their gestation period?
12 months. The calf will nurse for more than a year and then typically stays with their mother for three to six years.
How fast can they swim?
They can reach speeds of over 30km/hour and dive as deep as 250m.
How much do they weigh? How long are they?
An average of 660 pounds. They can reach a length of just over 13 feet.
What are their different fins used for?
The fluke (tail fin) is used to propel through the water and the pectoral fins (on each side) provide the direction control and the dorsal fin (on top) provides stability.
Do dolphins travel in groups?
Yes. They travel in groups, called ‘pods’. Although, adult males mostly travel alone or with smaller groups and then join the pod for a short time.
What is echolocation?
Bottlenose dolphins produce high-pitched clicks to navigate and find food. When the clicking sound hits an object, it bounces back to the dolphin as echoes, which allows the dolphins to determine the location, size, shape of the object.
What do bottlenose dolphins eat?
They are carnivores so they feed on mostly fish, but can also eat shrimp, crab, or squid. Locally, they eat Star Drum, Menhaden and Mullet.
How long can a dolphin hold its breath for?
10-15 minutes. Dolphins breathe through their blowhole; a muscular flap covers their blowhole while they are underwater.
How do dolphins sleep?
They float just beneath the surface of the water and small movements of their tail flukes propel them to the surface so they can take breaths while sleeping.
Do dolphins mate for life?
Dolphins do not mate for life. Dolphins mate for reasons other than reproductions, similar to humans and when food is scarce, they may not mate at all to focus on survival.
How long do bottlenose dolphins live?
Typically between 30 and 50 years. Dolphins in captivity live much shorter lives than wild dolphins.
What protections are in place to protect them?
Dolphins face various threats around the world, including direct kills, entanglements in fishing gear, live captures for captivity, habitat alteration, boat collisions, and the negative effects of pollution. Fortunately, bottlenose dolphins are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal to “take” marine mammals without a permit. A “take” includes harassment, feeding, hunting, capturing, collection, or killing any marine mammal.