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Often, the Bottlenose Dolphin is called a porpoise, and there is still some confusion about the differences between the two. Generally speaking, dolphins are much larger than porpoises and have a more pointed snout. Dolphins also have cone-shaped teeth, whereas porpoises have spade-shaped teeth.
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The Bottlenose Dolphin, is the species of dolphin most commonly found in oceanariums. They are steel-gray in colour with a white or pinkish underside. A look into its mouth would reveal about 88 cone-shaped teeth, 44 on top and 44 on the bottom. Each tooth is about 1.3 cm (1/2 inch) long. This type of dolphin may reach a length of 3.7 m (12 feet) and weigh more than 408 kg (900 lbs). However, the average is 2.4 m (8 feet) in length and weighs about 226.8 kg (500 lbs). The Bottlenose Dolphin may live up to 35 years of age.
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This dolphin is commonly found along the coast of North America. They may be seen as far north as New York and south into the Gulf of Mexico. They may also be found in the waters off Central America. Generally, they stay within a mile from shore.0
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Dolphins feed mainly on fish in the open ocean. They also eat shrimp and squid; but in oceanariums, fish is their main diet. The most common fish fed to dolphins are mackerel, herring and capelin. On the average, dolphins eat 6.8-9 kg (15 to 20 lbs) of fish per day.
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The gestation period of the Bottlenose Dolphin is 12-15 months. They mate in the spring and summer and give birth to one calf the following year. A newborn dolphin must be strong enough to maintain its own body temperature and to stay warm in the sometimes chilly water. Therefore, a dolphin is quite large at birth. The calf is usually about 1 m (3-1/2 feet) in length and weighs about 15.9 kg (35 lbs). Because the mother's milk is very rich, the newborn calf grows quite rapidly. The calf will nurse until 12 to 18 months of age.
The birth of a dolphin is usually quite rapid. It is born tail first, and as it is expelled from the mother, the umbilical cord breaks. Because the lungs of a newborn contain no air, it must get to the surface immediately or it could drown. Sometimes the mother of the calf, and often another female, push the infant to the surface for its first breath of air.
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Can dolphins talk? Since dolphins do not have vocal chords, they are not able to produce sounds similar to the human voice. These animals can, however, communicate with each other through their whistle-like language. Scientists are uncertain as to how sophisticated their language is, but hope to someday communicate with whales and dolphins with the aid of computers.
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Every dolphin has its own "dolphinality". Some are stubborn and others are always ready and willing. Some are timid and others are very aggressive. They are almost always in a good mood; but like humans, they have their bad days. The dolphin may show his anger by snapping his jaws violently, breeching (jumping out of the water and landing on its side), refusing to perform, and even chasing other animals in the pool. But basically, dolphins are happy and enjoy the company of each other and that of their trainers. They turn flips and chase each other, all in fun. They may even try to get the trainer to give them a "back scratch". Their friendly nature and perpetual smile make them one of the most likable animals in the world!
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