Bottlenose Dolphin
in the Atlantic Ocean
Needs from its habitat:
Food
Description:
Bottlenose dolphins weigh about 30 pounds at birth. As adults they are 8 to 12 feet long and can weigh as much as
1000 pounds. Their backs are a purplish grey color, turning to pale grey on the sides. They have white bellies.
Diet:
Bottlenose dolphins mostly eat fish, but will also eat shrimp, crabs, and squid.
Life Cycle:
Bottlenose dolphins breed in the spring and have their babies (called calves) about 12 months later. The calf stays
with its mother nursing for 18 months before it is weaned. Female dolphins are able to breed at about 6 years of age.
Male dolphins are ready at 10 years. Dolphins live to be about 50 years old.
Range:
Bottlenose dolphins live in oceans all over the world. They generally live near the shore.
Dangers:
Dolphins can get caught in commercial fishing nets. They are also hurt when too many of them are tamed by people.
