Where are bottlenose dolphins found?

They inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide and are not found in the Arctic or Antarctic Circle regions.

How intelligent are bottlenose dolphins?

Studies show advanced abilities including mimicry, object categorization, self-recognition, use of artificial language, tool use (sponging), and cultural transmission.

What threats do bottlenose dolphins face?

People hunt them for food in some areas, and they are killed incidentally as bycatch in tuna fishing and by getting caught in crab traps.

Do bottlenose dolphins interact with humans professionally?

Yes; they have been kept in aquariums and trained for shows and have been trained by militaries for tasks such as locating mines and detecting divers.

What do bottlenose dolphins eat?

They feed on fish and other prey; in some regions they cooperate with fishermen by driving fish into nets.

Sponging is a tool-use behavior where a dolphin uses a marine sponge to access food sources they otherwise could not reach.

Why are they called bottlenose dolphins?

The name derives from Latin: tursio (dolphin) and truncatus, referring to truncated or worn teeth of the type specimen.

Are there multiple species of bottlenose dolphin?

Molecular studies show the genus contains multiple species, and some populations (e.g., Burrunan dolphin) may be considered distinct species or subspecies.

Where to See Bottlenose Dolphin While Diving

The bottlenose dolphin is a toothed whale in the genus Tursiops and a common, cosmopolitan member of the family Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins). Molecular studies indicate the genus contains multiple species, including the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), and Tamanend's bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops erebennus); some forms such as the Burrunan dolphin may be treated as distinct species or as subspecies.

Bottlenose dolphins inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide and are absent from Arctic and Antarctic Circle regions. Their name derives from Latin (tursio for dolphin and truncatus referencing worn teeth in the type specimen).

Numerous studies have examined their intelligence, including mimicry, use of artificial language, object categorization, and self-recognition. They can use tools (notably "sponging," where a marine sponge is used to access food) and transmit cultural knowledge between generations. Bottlenose dolphins have been involved in aquarium displays and media; they have also been trained for military tasks such as mine location and diver detection, and in some places they cooperate with fishermen by driving fish into nets.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Marsa Alam (Abu Dabbab and Elphinstone), Caye Caulker, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and countries such as Australia, Egypt, France for divers building trips around bottlenose dolphins.