length: 2.3 - 3.8 m (7.5 - 13 ft)
weight: 130 - 300 kg (300 - 650 lb).
diet: fish, squid, shrimp, other invertibrates
range: tropical to temperate oceans worldwide
habitat: inshore, sometimes offshore
The animal most people think of when they hear the word "dolphin", the bottle-nosed dolphin has been immortalized by TV shows such as "Flipper" and aquarium shows throughout the world. They are the dolphin most likely to be used in "dolphin shows", being extremely quick to learn and even make up tricks of their own. See intellegence.
The bottle-nosed dolphin ranges in color from pale to dark grey. This gradually fades to a light or even pink belly. They are very robust, and have a pronounced dorsal fin. Size and coloration varies according to habitat and range.
Females usually stay together in "pods"; males are more flexable and often form "alliances" which contain two to three members. These groups cooperate to find food, ward off predators, and even search for potential mates. Extremely adaptave, they have even been known to work with human fishermen to gather fish, herding the fish into the fishermen's nets and recieving a share of the "profit."
