Bottlenose dolphins have 18 to 26 small, sharp teeth on each side of their upper and lower jaws. Bottlenose dolphins are one of the best known cetaceans, as they are displayed at oceanariums and are frequently seen on television and in movies. All dolphins, including the bottlenose dolphin, have strong eye muscles that can change the shape of the eye lens in order to focus in both air and water. Dolphins can recognize some colors and their pupils can adjust to light and dark changes in their environment. Dolphins have a well-developed sense of hearing and navigate their environments through echolocation .
Dolphins have very sensitive skin, which is easily damaged but also heals quickly.
Coastal bottlenose dolphins eat a wide variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans while offshore bottlenose dolphins prefer squid. Bottlenose dolphins sometimes cooperate with each other when hunting and have been reported herding fish into groups then take turns charging through the schools to feed, or trapping schools of fish against sand bars for an easy dinner. Dolphins rely on behavioral signals to indicate their willingness to mate. Mature female dolphins generally give birth every 2-4 years. Bottlenose dolphin generally live between 30 and 50 years.