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Featured in art both ancient and modern, films, TV, and in aquarium shows worldwide, the Bottlenose Dolphin is likely the species most familiar to people. It is larger and more powerfully built than many other members of the family Delphinidae, but size, shape and color vary widely on an individual basis and according to location. It has adapted to an amazingly wide range of habitats including coastal reefs, bays, estuaries, river mouths, and open ocean atolls around the world from nearly 60 degrees North to 50 degrees South latitude.Tursiops truncatus is obviously an acrobatic species capable of powerful jumps, often curious towards people, and a regular bow-rider of boats. Most are varying shades of gray, with a stout broad beak and prominent dorsal fin. Males are larger than females. Studied carefully both in captivity and the wild, we know more about the reproductive biology of this species than that of most other oceanic dolphins. Gestation lasts nearly a year, 3-4’ long calves are born year round, and young are not fully weaned until 18 or 20 months old.
Featured in art both ancient and modern, films, TV, and in aquarium shows worldwide, the Bottlenose Dolphin is likely the species most familiar to people. It is larger and more powerfully built than many other members of the family Delphinidae, but size, shape and color vary widely on an individual basis and according to location. It has adapted to an amazingly wide range of habitats including coastal reefs, bays, estuaries, river mouths, and open ocean atolls around the world from nearly 60 degrees North to 50 degrees South latitude.Tursiops truncatus is obviously an acrobatic species capable of powerful jumps, often curious towards people, and a regular bow-rider of boats. Most are varying shades of gray, with a stout broad beak and prominent dorsal fin. Males are larger than females. Studied carefully both in captivity and the wild, we know more about the reproductive biology of this species than that of most other oceanic dolphins. Gestation lasts nearly a year, 3-4’ long calves are born year round, and young are not fully weaned until 18 or 20 months old.
