Small dolphins in a small sea: age, growth and life‑history aspects of the Black Sea common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Journal: Aquatic Biology
Year: 2014

We provide first data on the life span, growth and seasonal aspects of the life history of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the wild and compare these with historical data and conspecific populations in other geographical regions. Average life span is 20 to 32 yr; the oldest record is 41 yr. The reproductive season lasts at least from February to September or October and includes the coldest months of the year (February and March). Average adult body lengths are 240 ± 14 cm fo