Bottlenose dolphins

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a marine mammal with a short, thick beak, grey colouring and a curved dorsal fin. Although it looks like a fish, it breathes with lungs and feeds its calf milk.

Where does it live?

Bottlenose dolphins live worldwide in warm and temperate seas, both close to shore and offshore. In Türkiye they can be seen along the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.

What does it eat?

Their main food is fish, squid and crustaceans. They find prey by echolocation: they make high-frequency sounds and use the returning echoes to sense the position, size and shape of nearby objects. Some groups develop shared hunting strategies.

Behaviour and social life

Bottlenose dolphins live in groups called pods, whose membership can change over time. They communicate with whistles, clicks and body movements. Research suggests each dolphin uses its own "signature whistle" that works much like a name.

Calves

Pregnancy lasts about 12 months and usually a single calf is born. The calf stays with its mother for several years and learns survival skills from her.

Conservation status

The bottlenose dolphin is listed as Least Concern (LC) globally on the IUCN Red List. However, some regional populations are threatened by entanglement in fishing nets, marine pollution, noise and declining prey.

Fun facts

• Dolphins rest only one half of the brain at a time while sleeping; the other half keeps breathing going.
• Some bottlenose groups use sponges to protect their snouts while foraging on the sea floor.
• Dolphins are among the few animals that can recognise themselves in a mirror.