Bottlenose Dolphins

Why are bottlenose dolphins important?

Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can be considered ecosystem engineers as their behaviour increases habitat productivity and species richness and are therefore crucial to maintaining the health of ocean ecosystems.

Cetaceans feed at varying depths, yet defecate generally near the surface, which concentrates a large volume of nutrients, benefitting the ocean ecosystem. Cetaceans are also great carbon sinks – as they eat and grow they sequester (hide away) large amounts of carbon in their bodies. When they die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean, locking the carbon away from re-entering the atmosphere. That means they have an important role to play in combatting climate change.

How to recognise a bottlenose dolphin

Dolphins have sharp eyesight but use echolocation (reflected sound) to explore and search out prey when visibility is limited. They are extremely intelligent animals and communicate through pulsed sounds, whistles, clicks and body language.

WHERE DO BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS LIVE?

Bottlenose dolphins are extremely widespread, living in all three major water basins (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian) as well as the Mediterranean. They occur in a range of habitats from temperate and tropical coasts to oceanic shelves, and the open water.

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN BEHAVIOUR

With streamlined bodies and powerful tails, bottlenose dolphins can swim up to 300 metres below the surface of the ocean – remaining submerged for up to 20 minutes – and are capable of bursts of speed of around 30mph.

Bottlenose dolphins usually live in pods of 10-30 members, although super-pods, larger than 1,000, have been recorded! Adult males live mostly alone, or in groups of two to three, and join pods for short periods of time.

Dolphin communication is highly complex. They use numerous vocal sounds, many of which are distinctive to individuals or pods. These can include whistles, squeaks, clicks, chirps and many other noises. Body language is also important – blowing bubbles, flipper or tail slaps, breaches and head butts.

After a gestation of 12 months, females give birth in shallow water – the calf suckles for around 18 months but will stay close to its mother for several years.