The Animal of September: The Bottlenosed Dolphin!

With a familiar smile and a silly personality, the Bottlenosed dolphin is an intelligent aquatic mammal that can swim over speeds of 18 miles an hour. Dolphins are very social animals that live in groups known as pods. They communicate in various different sounds of whistles. Dolphins are carnivores, eating fish, shrimp, and squid. These sneaky critters are also seen sometimes following fishing boats to see if there is anything left over to eat.



Bottlenosed dolphins are found in the warm tropical waters all around the world. Dolphins were once hunted for meat and oil, but are now protected and dolphin fishing is limited. The average lifespan of a bottlenosed dolphin is 45 to 50 years. They can grow to be about 10 to 14 ft long, and weigh about 1,100 lbs. Dolphins can jump 16 ft out of the water and land with a big splash on their side or their back.



The Fast Facts
1. Carnivore
2. Average lifespan in the wild: 45 to 50 years
3. Weight 1,100 lbs
4. Group name: a pod
5. marine mammal