Home range is defined as the area habitually used by an animal.
In previous attempts to quantify home ranges of bottlenose dolphins, researchers have used linear distances traveled, minimum area polygons, or simply used their study area to define home range size. In many studies, the temporal and spatial scale of the research has influenced the perception of home range. To test whether fewer sightings can be used to define home range, we randomly selected ten sightings from each individual. Therefore, estimates of home range size based on a small number of sightings may be biased and imprecise. To allow comparisons among study areas, it is necessary to estimate home range using standardized techniques and an adequate sample size.