Common Bottlenose Dolphin Species Guide - WDC LC (T. t. ponticus listed as EN) CITES Appendix: II (Black Sea population has zero export quota) CMS Appendix: I (T. t. ponticus), II (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea populations) Classification: The bottlenose dolphin is the most well-known of all dolphins, likely because of its frequent appearances on television and in film and its popularity with the captivity industry. They were one of the first species (and continue to be the most popular) regularly captured live for display purposes and by the US Navy for ‘research'. Bottlenose dolphins are highly intelligent, adaptable predators, capable of problem solving, tool-use and exhibiting some flexibility in terms of prey. Until recently all bottlenose dolphins were classified as the same species, Tursiops truncatus. In recent years, however, a distinct species found in the Indo-Pacific region has been recognised, Tursiops aduncus, hence now the recognition of 2 species of bottlenose dolphin; the "common" (T.truncatus) and the "Indo-Pacific" (T. aduncus) bottlenose dolphin.

In addition, the population found in the Black Sea is recognised as a separate subspecies, T. t. ponticus, the Black Sea common bottlenose dolphin. Appearance: The size and appearance of the common bottlenose dolphin is highly variable both among individuals and between different populations. It is generally a large dolphin, robust and chunky, and under most lighting conditions it appears a featureless uniform grey. In actuality, its colouring is fairly complex. The common bottlenose dolphin is actually a dark grey, sometimes bluish or brownish grey, with a darker dorsal cape, paler lower sides with a subtle eye-flipper stripe, and lighter belly. It has a distinctly short, stubby beak, set off from the melon by a crease, a high falcate dorsal fin, long slender pointed flippers, and pointed flukes. In areas where more than one population can be found they are often separated into inshore and offshore types, the inshore ones generally being smaller. They can be easily confused with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins where their range overlaps, as well as with young spotted dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins and dolphins from the genus Sotalia. Correct identification is sometimes a process of elimination.

You can help WDC's work by adopting a dolphin today. Behaviour: Common bottlenose dolphins are extremely inquisitive and playful, highly sociable and highly surface active. They can often be seen lobtailing, breaching, spyhopping, bowriding on ships and large whales and playing with fish, seaweed or marine debris. They can often be found in small groups associating with other species of dolphins, whales, and even sharks and sea turtles. They are known to co-operate with local fishermen, driving fish towards shore into nets. Solitary individuals are known from several locations around the world. Distribution: Common bottlenose dolphins have a wide distribution and can be found in coastal and continental shelf waters in tropical and temperate zones. Found in most enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, for example the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, they also frequent river mouths, lagoons and shallow bays. Unfortunately, bottlenose dolphins have a high rate of accidental mortality through bycatch. Other threats to this species include direct hunting in Japan and other countries, chemical and noise pollution, and habitat degradation. In some countries they are still captured live and exported for public display.

The IUCN classify the common bottlenose dolphin as of Least Concern worldwide. However, many inshore bottlenose dolphins exist in small, relatively isolated populations and these groups may be especially vulnerable to human activities. For example there remains only one resident population in the North Sea and the Black Sea common bottlenose dolphin is classified as Endangered. Distribution map: Young pre-adult dolphins form groups for play and exploring Groups of females with their calves Adult males form long-lasting groups of two or three A dolphin grouping is called a "pod." A pod of bottlenose dolphins may consist of anywhere from two to hundreds of individuals, although pods of two to two dozen are more common. Dolphins living close to shore generally form smaller pods than those that live far offshore. Deep-water offshore dolphins may form larger pods as a way to deal with increased danger from predators. What do dolphins eat? Bottlenose dolphins eat a wide variety of fish, plus eels, shrimp and other crustaceans. Their exact diet depends on what's available to them. Adult bottlenose dolphins normally eat 20 to 25 pounds of food daily, sometimes up to 40, maybe even 50. When and how do dolphins sleep?

Dolphins sleep with half their brain at a time. Half their brain sleeps, while the other half stays awake. (I've observed that many college students can do this too, especially in class.) Dolphins alternate which side of their brains sleeps at any given time. Since dolphins must breathe consciously, this type of sleep allows them to partially sleep while still swimming and breathing. How do dolphins catch their food? They use a variety of methods: In one method, called "kerplunking," the dolphin slaps a fish out of water with one of its tail flukes to stun it, making it easier to catch. In another kerplunking technique the dolphin slaps its tail flukes on the water to scare hiding fish into moving. In western Australia bottlenose dolphins display a form of tool use. The dolphins--mostly the females--hold sponges in their mouth to protect their noses while they root around in the sand looking for prey. This behavior is passed by a mother to her offspring. While the young females take to it quite readily, the young males mostly ignore the lessons.

One speculation is that sponging is time consuming, and young males would rather socialize than forage with sponges, since socializing increases their chances of breeding. Dolphins often cooperate with one another--even to the point of acting as a team, especially when feeding. In the South Carolina's tidal waters, for instance, they have been observed beaching fish by running together as a group to create a head-on wave which washes the fish up on banks exposed by low tides. This technique is called "strand fishing." Here's an incredible video showing dolphins in the act of mud-ring feeding. How many of us humans could have dreamed up this method? Do wild dolphins ever act cooperatively with humans? Yes. In Laguna, Brazil, a most fascinating alliance has developed between bottlenose dolphins and local fishermen. The dolphins herd schools of mullet toward fishermen waiting to throw their cast nets. Apparently, the dolphins even signal to the fishermen exactly when to throw. This is a WIN-WIN situation for both man and dolphin. The fishermen catch more fish, and the dolphin catch the herded fish escaping the nets. By most accounts, this cooperation has been going on for more than 100 years.

This learned behavior--on the part of humans and dolphins--is passed down from one generation to the next. Check out this video by Exploration Films. It's nothing short of amazing. Do dolphins have any natural enemies? Yes. Their enemies include killer whales (orcas), and certain large sharks such as the tiger shark and the bull shark. Bull Shark: A Dolphin's Natural Enemy Copyright iStockphoto.com/Erich Ritter Tiger Shark: Another Dolphin Natural Enemy copyright iStockphoto.com/Chris Dascher How do dolphins protect themselves? A lot of dolphin self defense relies on strength in numbers. When a predator threatens, the entire pod may take part in neutralizing the threat. For example, dolphins will ram a shark's soft underbelly to kill it or drive it away. Dolphins are also adept at communicating danger to one another through the various sounds they produce. If you see a dorsal fin in the water, how can you tell if it belongs to a dolphin or a shark? Dolphins swim by flapping their tails up and down, alternately surfacing and diving. A dolphin seems to "roll" through the water, bowed backs and fins showing one second, disappearing the next, then reappearing.

This "now-you-see-it, now-you-don't" pattern is what you'll normally see when you spot a dolphin dorsal fin. A shark, on the other hand, swims with a side-to-side motion of its tail, and its dorsal fin tends to cut straight through the water without the dolphin's rolling pattern. A Dolphin Fin Cuts the Water in a Rolling Fashion How do dolphins communicate? They use a variety of sounds described as clicks, squeaks, creaks, buzzing clicks, chuffs, screams, squawks, pops, chirps, and whistles. Plus, like humans, they communicate with body language which can include play biting, petting, smacking, and so on. No doubt dolphins can communicate with one another, but so can dogs, cats, and probably most other animals for that matter. Perhaps the most interesting question regarding dolphin communications is "Do they have a language?" If you mean a human-type language based on symbols, and capable of describing abstract ideas, the short answer according to experts is no. Why do dolphins jump? Nobody knows for sure, but scientists speculate that dolphins jump for a variety of reasons, including the following: Because it's fun.

They are naturally playful, so maybe they're just jumping for joy. Because it's easier to travel through air than through water. To get a good look at the above-water world around them--maybe to help them navigate. To get away from sharks. To help them regulate breathing. A Wild Dolphin Jumps In Front of Me In The Gulf of Mexico How do dolphins chew their food? Their cone-shaped teeth are used for catching food, not for chewing. They swallow their food whole. Do dolphins have good vision? Yes. The design of their eyes allows them to see well above and below water, and in bright as well as dim light. Their may, however, be more or less color blind. Unlike humans, dolphins have monoscopic vision in each eye, allowing them to see two different images at the same time. Within limits, they can also focus both eyes on the same image, allowing them to "see in stereo" the way we humans do. Do dolphins have good hearing? They have excellent hearing. Like dogs, bottlenose dolphins can hear a wide range of high-pitch sounds that we humans can't. But dolphins can hear much higher frequencies than even dogs can.

Oh, and in case you're looking for a dolphins ears, they're the little dimples down there behind their eyes. Are Dolphins Intelligent? What Do YOU Think? How intelligent are dolphins? Dolphins are highly intelligent, capable of tool use. They can also recognize themselves in a mirror, thereby displaying self-awareness. Groups of dolphins can work together in amazingly cooperative patterns, for example, to defend against a shark. They have even been noted displaying a sense of humor by playing "tricks" on other animals-- rolling sea turtles in the water, and sneaking up to scare unsuspecting pelicans, for instance. Bottlenose Dolphin <em>(Tursiops truncatus)</em> :: NOAA Fisheries invertebrates, squids, fishes Behavior: use high frequency echolocation to locate and capture prey; use multiple feeding strategies, including "fish whacking," where they strike a fish with their flukes and knock it out of the water The bottlenose dolphin is one of the most well known species of marine mammals. They have a robust body and a short, thick beak. Their coloration ranges from light gray to black with lighter coloration on the belly. Inshore and offshore individuals vary in color and size.

Inshore animals are smaller and lighter in color, while offshore animals are larger, darker in coloration and have smaller flippers. Bottlenose dolphins can sometimes be confused with the rough-toothed dolphins , Risso's dolphins , and Atlantic spotted dolphins in regions of overlapping distributions. Bottlenose dolphins range in lengths from 6.0 to 12.5 ft (1.8 to 3.8 m) with males slightly larger than females. Adults weight from 300-1400 lbs (136-635 kg). This is a long-lived dolphin species with a lifespan of 40-45 years for males and more than 50 years for females. Bottlenose dolphins are commonly found in groups of 2 to 15 individuals. Offshore herds sometimes have several hundred individuals. This species is often associated with pilot whales and other cetacean species. Bottlenose dolphins are generalists and feed on a variety of prey items "endemic" to their habitat, foraging individually and cooperatively. Like other dolphins, bottlenose dolphins use high frequency echolocation to locate and capture prey.

Coastal animals prey on "benthic" invertebrates and fish, and offshore animals feed on pelagic squid and fish. Bottlenose dolphins employ multiple feeding strategies, including "fish whacking," where they strike a fish with their flukes and knock it out of the water. Sexual maturity varies by population and ranges from 5-13 years for females and 9-14 years for males. Calves are born after a 12 month gestation period and are weaned at 18 to 20 months. On average, calving occurs every 3 to 6 years. Females as old as 45 years have given birth. Habitat Bottlenose dolphins are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. There are coastal populations that migrate into bays, estuaries and river mouths as well as offshore populations that inhabit pelagic waters along the continental shelf. Distribution Photo: Hubbs-SeaWorld Population Trends Our Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) for bottlenose dolphins include estimated population sizes for U.S. stocks , though population trends for all of the U.S. stocks are currently unknown.

Threats incidental injury and mortality from fishing gear, such as gillnet, seine, trawl, and longline commercial and recreational operations exposure to pollutants and biotoxins viral outbreaks direct harvest, in Japan and Taiwan Conservation Efforts NOAA and its local, state and federal partners started the Barataria Bay dolphin study in 2011 as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) , the process for studying the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In 2006, NMFS implemented the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP) to reduce the serious injury and mortality of Western North Atlantic coastal bottlenose dolphins incidental to nine U.S. commercial fisheries. In addition to multiple non-regulatory provisions for research and education, the BDTRP requires modifications of fishing practices for small, medium, and large-mesh gillnet fisheries from New York to Florida. The BDTRP also established seasonal closures for certain commercial fisheries in state waters. Bottlenose dolphins are classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List . Regulatory Overview This species is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, as amended.

The Western North Atlantic Coastal stock of bottlenose dolphins is listed as "depleted" under the MMPA. In addition, NMFS has classified five U.S. stocks of bottlenose dolphins as "strategic" stocks: Eastern Gulf of Mexico Coastal; Western Gulf of Mexico Coastal; Northern Gulf of Mexico Coastal; Gulf of Mexico Bay, Sound and Estuarine; and Western North Atlantic Coastal. Taxonomy Bottlenose Dolphin Facts: Animals of North America - WorldAtlas.com Bottlenose Dolphin Facts: Animals of North America These highly intelligent and adaptive mammals have a wide range of habitat spanning across three oceans. Bottlenoses are the most common and well-known members of the dolphin family of aquatic mammals, Delphinidae. 5. Physical Description Bottlenose dolphins are a species of marine mammals that belong, alongside whales and porpoises, to the Cetacean Order, whose closest terrestrial relatives on land include Hippopotamuses. Adults range from roughly 6.5 to 13 feet in length and from 330 to nearly 1500 pounds in weight.

The top halves of their bodies are grey, while the bottoms are closer to white, a color combination which effectively camouflages them from both above and below while swimming. As their names suggest, bottlenose dolphins have narrow, bottle-shaped snouts, which help to streamline their sleek, powerful bodies, and subsequently place them among the ocean’s most efficient swimmers. These snouts are filled with 18-28 conical teeth, which they use in hunting and feeding. 4. Diet The Bottlenose dolphins' diets' are composed primarily of fish species, such as mullet, tuna, and mackerel. They’ve also been known to eat species of bottom feeders, as well as a variety of crustaceans and squid. Though dolphins occasionally hunt alone, they more commonly hunt in groups, relying on teamwork to herd schools of fish towards shores and maximize their kills. They make these kills with their sharp teeth and, at times, through a practice aptly nicknamed “fish whacking,” wherein they will stun their prey with their snouts, sometimes even knocking them out of the water. Dolphins have also been known to follow fishing boats, at times even stealing fish from their nets. 3.

Habitat and Range The bottlenose dolphin is an extremely adaptive animal, which allows its range to be quite broad. Present throughout the majority of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans and their adjoining seas, these dolphins can be found both close along shorelines and far out at sea. And while they can thrive in a variety of environments, their size does tend to vary depending on their habitat, which is more affected by water temperature. Dolphins in warmer, shallower waters are generally smaller, while those in cooler, pelagic regions are typically larger. At the moment, bottlenose dolphins are not endangered, though they are, like many marine species, affected by habitat loss, pollution, and fishing. Smaller dolphins are also preyed on by a variety of shark species, such as bull, tiger, and great white sharks. 2. Behavior Bottlenose dolphins are extremely social animals, and as such can generally be found living in groups called 'pods'. These pods can range from 2 or 3 dolphins to, in rarer instances, in excess of 1,000 members.

Within these groups, Bottlenose dolphins communicate with 'echolocation', a form of sonar wherein the dolphin detects objects by producing a range of squeaks and clicks, and listening for the resulting echoes. Dolphins are known for their playful nature, and can often be seen frolicking and leaping out of the water. That said, males are known to become very aggressive with each other during mating season, and the species has also been known to attack marauding sharks. 1. Reproduction As mammals, bottlenose dolphins bear live young, rather than laying eggs like fish, reptiles, and birds. During the species’ breeding season, the males will compete for female mates, often fighting one another, and at times even working in pairs to isolate and protect a single female. Once mating has successfully occurred, a female will gestate for an average of 12 months. The resulting young, generally being just a single calf, will then be birthed in warmer, shallow waters. They will then suckle for anywhere from 18 months to as long as 8 years, and will often maintain a close relationship with their mothers well after weaning. This page was last modified on January 11, 2016.

On WorldAtlas.com Bottlenose Dolphin - Animal Facts and Information Bottlenose Dolphin Posted by BioExpedition | Jul 10, 2012 | Dolphins , Slider | Bottlenose Dolphin Genus Tursiops Introduction to Bottlenose Dolphin If you aren’t familiar with too many species of dolphins, chances are at least one of them on your list is the well-known Bottlenose Dolphin. They are frequently used in books, movies, and they are the ones often trained at locations such as Sea World for people to see. Part of what makes them so attractive is that their facial features make it look like they are smiling. Bottlenose Dolphin Description The Bottlenose Dolphin is large sized and the length of it can average from 10 to 14 feet. They may way as much as 1,100 pounds but the typical size is from 330 to 440 pounds. The location where these dolphins live and what they eat plays a huge role in their length and their weight. What researchers have found though is that those living in warmer waters tend to be smaller and lighter than those that live in the colder regions.

Class Conservation status Least Concern They have a body that is well designed for moving through the water without too much energy being used as they do so. The rubbery feel of their skin surprises may people. They have layers of skin like humans, and the old skin cells flake off. Every couple of hours, the Bottlenose Dolphin generates a new outer layer of skin. Their skin is at least 10 times thicker than human skin, but could be up to 20 times thicker. They don’t have any hair and they don’t feature any sweat glands. The beak is very short and you will notice that they have pointed ends of their flippers. The color for a Bottlenose Dolphin can range from light to dark shades of gray. They seem to have lighter colors on the flanks. The belly is usually white but it can have a pinkish tint to it. Just like land animals with forelimbs, these dolphins feature pectoral flippers with a similar skeletal make up. They are shorter though and the presence of connective tissue is what allows them to function. This is also where the blood circulating through them allows these dolphins to regulation their body temperature. There is nothing but connective tissue in the fluke of a dolphin.

Many people assume that it is made from bone, cartilage, or even muscle but none of that is true. They do have a curved look of the dorsal fin, but not all of the Bottlenose Dolphins will feature the same shape in this part of the body. Connective tissue is also what the dorsal fin is made from. The melon is the rounded area of the forehead and that is where echolocation stems from as there is fat stored in there. They have eyes that are located on the side of the head. While they do have ears, they are very small and hard to see unless you look right behind the eyes for them. Bottlenose dolphin pair Bottlenose Dolphin Distribution The tropical oceans out there offer the habitat for them to survive in. They can live in cooler temperatures but they do better in the water areas. They have been known to live in bodies of water as cool as 50 degrees Fahrenheit but they have also been known to live in bodies of water that are as warm as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. They may live in the rivers, bays, or the open shorelines. There are plenty of locations where you can see the Bottlenose Dolphins. Southern California is a common location where people go to observe them.

Other places include the North part of Japan, Chile, Australia, Hawaii, Norway, and Nova Scotia. Smaller numbers of them have been seen around the tip of South Africa. The largest numbers of them are the stretch that runs from the Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod. Even though these dolphins must surface for air every few minutes, they can live deeper in the waters. They also live close to the shore depending on their habitat and the availability of food. They can remain under the water for about 4 ½ minutes before they need more air. httpv://youtu.be/HS7zkFP-6WY Bottlenose Dolphin Behavior One of the spectacular things about watching the Bottlenose Dolphin is that they can breach up to 16 feet in the air when they leap out of it. They can so this several times in a row before they move on to other behaviors. They are very intelligent which is why they are often trained for entertainment as well as to help with a variety of water related military needs. They are quite loveable and they are more likely to get close to humans in the wild than other species of dolphins due to their curiosity. A group of Bottlenose Dolphins is called a pod, and they are very social with each other.

There can be from 10 to 100 members in a pod. When there are larger numbers, there are also various subgroups within it that allow them to carry out their overall hierarchy. They tend to spend lots of time socializing and they have been seen socializing with the Pilot Whale . Migration is part of life for these dolphins so that they can maintain living in bodies of water with the right temperature. They also migrate in order to continually have access to food. Some of the pods have regular migration routes that they follow annually. Others though randomly migrate based on needs. Bottlenose Dolphin Feeding The majority of the diet for the Bottlenose Dolphin is fish, and they have lots of species that they can consume. What they can get though depends on where they live. Squid is also a food source for these dolphins. The use of echolocation allows them to be able to find where their food resources are located in the water. Hunting for food is a group effort, and in a larger pod they will break into units so that they can help each other. They will need to eat up to 35 pounds of food per day depending on size.

At the least, they will need to consume 10 pounds of food daily. They may use techniques to get schools of fish to ball up or they may use their flukes to hit the fish and stun them. All food is swallowed even though they have teeth. The teeth help them to hold the food. Bottlenose Dolphin Playing Bottlenose Dolphin Reproduction The location of the Bottlenose Dolphin influences when they will be ready to mate. Females are usually going to mate from 5 to 13 years of age. For males it could range from 9 to 14 years of age. The young calf will be born about 1 year later. They will drink milk from the mother for the next year and a half or so. However, they will be introduced to fish and squid by the time they are 6 months old. They can live from 40 to 50 years in the wild, and females tend to live longer than the males. Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation Status and Threats There are conservation efforts in place to help protect these dolphins. One of the largest risks they face is the waters they live in being polluted. That pollution can make them very sick and it can increase the risk of diseases.

Chemicals and plastic in the water are main concerns, but noise pollution can create problems too. It can create very high levels of stress that prevent them from finding food or mating. The noise often comes from boating activities, so one of the focuses of such efforts involves restricting where boats are able to be at. Under the Biodiversity Action Plan in the UK, it is against the law to hunt Bottlenose Dolphins or to cause them any type of harm. Tursiops truncatus ssp. ponticus (Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Bottlenose Dolphin) Home » Tursiops truncatus ssp. ponticus (Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Bottlenose Dolphin) Tursiops truncatus ssp. ponticus – Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Bottlenose Dolphin Taxonomic Notes: Bottlenose Dolphins in the Black Sea are recognized as a subspecies possessing morphological differences from Atlantic and Pacific populations (Barabasch-Nikiforov 1960, Geptner et al. 1976).

The Black Sea population is also differentiated genetically from other bottlenose dolphin populations in the eastern and western Mediterranean and the northeastern Atlantic (Natoli et al. 2005), and this evidence supports recognition of T. t. ponticus (A. Natoli pers. comm. 2006). Brownell Jr., R.L. & Crespo, E. Justification: The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, T. t. ponticus, qualifies for listing as Endangered based on criterion A2cde. Generation time was not estimated for this subspecies; it was assumed to be approximately 20 years, as for the Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin (Taylor et al. 2007 estimated 23 years for the species). Thus, three generations for Black Sea bottlenose dolphins would be about 60 years. There is no estimate of total population size but information from incomplete surveys suggests that the current population size is at least several 1,000s of animals.

The past 60-year period (1946-2005; three generations) includes events, circumstances and trends that are relevant to Criterion A, as follows: (1) Large directed takes occurred before the ban on small cetacean hunting was declared in Turkey in 1983. Within the 38-year period from 1946-1983, the total number of bottlenose dolphins killed was at least 24,000-28,000 but certainly much greater (probably by tens of 1000s) because those figures do not incorporate any catch statistics from Romania, or for Turkey before 1976 and after 1981, or for Bulgaria before 1958 (see “Threats”). There are indications of some recent intentional killing and harassment in Ukraine; (2) Regionally dispersed incidental mortality in bottom-set gillnets from 1946 through the 1980s is roughly estimated at some 100s per year.

The scale of this mortality almost certainly increased in the 1990s-2000s owing to the rapid expansion of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Black Sea; (3) Hundreds and probably 1,000 bottlenose dolphins have been live-captured in the Black Sea for captivity since the mid 1960s. This does not account for mortality (usually unreported) during capture operations. Live-captures continue in the Russian Federation, with 10-20 animals taken annually from a small area; (4) A mortality event of unknown cause occurred in 1990; (5) There has been ongoing degradation of the Black Sea environment overall (including bottlenose dolphin habitat) and declines in many of its indigenous animal populations (including bottlenose dolphin prey) from the 1970s to the present, with a likely peak in the devastation caused by overfishing and habitat deterioration (including pollution and explosive growth of populations of invasive species) in the late 1980s–early 1990s. These processes, taken together, have led to severe declines in prey populations.

The inference of a reduction in population size of 50% was supported by a simple simulation in which the population was assumed to increase at a constant rate of 4% per year and the direct and incidental removals (as indicated by points (1), (2) and (3) above) were estimated realistically. This simulation showed that a decline of more than 50% in the last three generations would be required for the current population size to be about 15,000. Previously published Red List assessments: 2008 – Endangered (EN) Geographic Range [top] Range Description: The range of Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphins includes the Black Sea proper; Kerch Strait along with the adjoining part of the Azov Sea (Tzalkin 1940, Birkun et al. 1997, Sokolov 1997); and the Turkish Straits System (TSS) (Kleinenberg 1956, Beaubrun 1995, Öztürk and Öztürk 1997) (see Figure 1 in the Supplementary Material).

The genetic data suggest that the TSS constitutes an ecological barrier between the Black Sea dolphins and those in the Mediterranean, although limited gene flow between the two seas is probable. A possible vagrant from the Black Sea population was identified genetically in the western Mediterranean (Natoli et al. 2005). The range of the Black Sea subspecies includes the territorial waters and exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine in the Black Sea; internal waters of Ukraine in the Black Sea (including the Dnieper-and-Boug Liman, Karkinitsky Bay and Donuzlav Lake); internal waters of Russia and Ukraine in the Kerch Strait and Azov Sea; and internal waters of Turkey, represented by the Turkish Straits System including the Bosphorus Strait, Marmara Sea and Dardanelles. There are a few records of Bottlenose Dolphins entering rivers, e.g. the Danube in Romania (Police 1930, cited in Tomilin 1957) and the Dnieper in Ukraine (Birkun 2006).

Population structure within the Black Sea is likely (Bel’kovich 1996), with several subpopulations or “semi-resident” communities, including those that spend most of the year in geographically and ecologically different areas, e.g. northwestern Black Sea; coastal waters off the southern Crimea; Kerch Strait and adjoining portions of the Black Sea and Azov Sea; shelf waters off the Caucasian coast; Turkish Black Sea; and TSS. [Note: It has been agreed that territorial waters of all six Black Sea countries constitute the 12-mile-wide aquatic strip along the coasts of the sea; marine boundaries of the countries coincide with the external (offshore) border of this strip. However, there are some areas where the sea runs deep inland (gulfs, bays, etc.), and in these places the 12-mile rule does not work. These water bodies are situated quite far from the state boundaries and constitute the so-called “internal [marine] waters” of the Black Sea countries.] The map shows where the species may occur. The species has not been recorded for all the states within the hypothetical range as shown on the map.

States for which confirmed records of the species exist are included in the list of native range states. For further information about this species, see 133714_Tursiops_truncatus_ponticus.pdf . A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required. Countries occurrence: Population [top] Population: The total population size is unknown. Region-wide estimates of absolute abundance, based on strip transect surveys carried out in the USSR (1967–1974) and Turkey (1987), have been discredited by the IWC Scientific Committee due to irremediable methodological and interpretive problems (Smith 1982, Buckland et al. 1992). During most of the 20th century, the Bottlenose Dolphin was considered the least abundant of the three cetacean species in the Black Sea (Tzalkin 1940, Kleinenberg 1956, Geptner et al. 1976, Yaskin and Yukhov 1997). During the last decade, Bottlenose Dolphins have become prevalent in coastal waters of the northern Black Sea (Birkun et al.

2004b). The estimated sighting rate increased by a factor of five between 1995 and 1997–1998. There is an annual autumn accumulation of Bottlenose Dolphins in waters close to the southern extremity of the Crimea (Cape Fiolent – Cape Sarych). Groups of hundreds of animals migrate every autumn to this relatively small area from the eastern and, probably, other parts of the Black Sea (Birkun et al. 2004b, Birkun 2006). Estimates of abundance from recent line transect surveys in different parts of the range (see Table 1 in the Supplementary Material) suggest that present population size is at least several 1,000s. Population Trend In the 20th century, the number of Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphins was reduced by direct killing for the cetacean-processing industry, which continued until 1983. The numbers of animals taken were not recorded accurately; much of the catch data was recorded as numbers of animals undifferentiated to species (all three Black Sea cetacean species were targeted) and by wet weight aggregates (e.g. tons of small cetaceans landed).

Nevertheless, it can be inferred that the population size of T. t. ponticus had been reduced by many thousands as a result of these direct kills by the time of the total ban on the Black Sea dolphin fishery (see “Threats” section). It is suspected that during the period from 1983–2005, the population had a tendency to increase. However, it is also suspected that recovery was compromised by a mortality event in 1990 and is continuing to be compromised by the persistent and probably increasing anthropogenic influences listed below under “Threats”. Generation Time It was assumed that Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphins have a life history similar to T. truncatus elsewhere and therefore that the generation time is approximately 20 years. The interval between births is from two or three to six years (Tomilin 1957), but in captive females the reproductive cycle can be as short as two years (Ozharovskaya 1997). It was assumed that one female is unlikely to produce more than eight calves in her lifetime (Tomilin 1984, cited after: Ozharovskaya 1997).

Sexual behaviour can be observed during the whole year with a peak in spring and early summer. The reproductive season (maximum five spontaneous ovulations) extends from March to October with a peak in June; the highest concentrations of testosterone in males were recorded in July and the lowest in January (Ozharovskaya 1997). Gestation lasts 12 months. Lactation can last more than 1.5 years. For further information about this species, see 133714_Tursiops_truncatus_ponticus.pdf . A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required. Current Population Trend: Habitat and Ecology [top] Habitat and Ecology: Bottlenose Dolphins are distributed across the Black Sea shelf; they sometimes occur far offshore (Beaubrun 1995, Yaskin and Yukhov 1997). In the northern Black Sea they form scattered communities of some tens to approximately 150 animals in different places around Crimea, including the Kerch Strait and coastal waters off the western and southern extremities of the peninsula (Zatevakhin and Bel’kovich 1996, Birkun et al.

2004a, Birkun 2006). Accumulations also are known to form off the Russian Caucasus (Olga Shpak pers. comm. 2005) and close to the Turkish coast (Sergey Krivokhizhin pers. comm., 2005). Bottlenose Dolphins typically aggregate during autumn, winter and spring in a relatively small area off southern Crimea between Cape Sarych and Cape Khersones (Birkun et al. 2006). According to a 2-year photo-identification study, this “winter” accumulation consists of animals from other “summer” concentrations. Mean group sizes varied from 2.0 to 2.9 in different surveyed areas (Birkun et al. 2002, 2003, 2004a). The peculiarities of cetacean ecology in the Black Sea are conditioned mainly by the high degree of geographical isolation of the sea, its relatively low salinity, significant seasonal fluctuations of water temperature, and the presence of anoxic water saturated with hydrogen sulphide below 100–250 m depth.

Bottlenose Dolphins are primarily piscivorous in the Black Sea, taking both benthic and pelagic fishes, large and small. A total of 16 fish species have been reported as prey off the Crimean and Caucasian coasts (Tzalkin 1940, Kleinenberg 1956, Tomilin 1957, Krivokhizhin et al. 2000) including four species of mullet (Lisa aurata, L. saliens, Mugil cephalus and M. so-iuy). Systems: Threats [top] Major Threat(s): In the past, the population was subject to extensive commercial killing. Bottlenose Dolphins were taken by all Black Sea countries for manufacturing oils, paint, glue, varnish, foodstuffs, medicine, soap, cosmetics, leather, “fish” meal and bone fertilizer (Kleinenberg 1956, Tomilin 1957, Buckland et al. 1992).

The total number of animals killed is unknown; however, it is generally acknowledged that all Black Sea cetacean populations, including Bottlenose Dolphins, were greatly reduced by the dolphin fishery (IWC 1983, 1992, 2004). It has been roughly estimated that between the early 1930s and mid 1950s Bottlenose Dolphins constituted only 0.5% of the aggregate numbers of Black Sea cetaceans killed and processed in the USSR (Tzalkin 1940, Kleinenberg 1956) including present-day Russia, Ukraine and Georgia. The statistics of the fishery were commonly expressed as total weight or total numbers of animals in the catch without species differentiation. Using the value of 0.5%, Zemsky (1996) estimated that a total of only 4,279 Bottlenose Dolphins were taken in the USSR (1946-1966) and Bulgaria (1958–1966), with yearly variation from 30 (in 1966) to 656 (in 1959).

These figures are very likely underestimated to a great extent for the following reasons: (a) in spring 1946, more than 3,000 Bottlenose Dolphins were caught during a single day in one location close to the southern Crimea (Kleinenberg 1956); (b) in 1961, the Bulgarian cetacean fishery concentrated almost exclusively on bottlenose dolphins and about 13,000 of them were taken (Nikolov 1963 cited in Sal’nikov 1967); (c) in April 1966, a single dolphin-processing factory in Novorossiysk, Russia, processed 53 Bottlenose Dolphins (Danilevsky and Tyutyunnikov 1968). Thus, taking into consideration the unknown but presumably significant size of the Turkish and Romanian catches, it can be inferred that the number of Bottlenose Dolphins killed before the mid 1960s was sometimes very high.

From 1976 to 1981, Bottlenose Dolphins were believed to account for 2–3% of the total catch in the Turkish cetacean fishery, which took an estimated 34,000–44,000 small cetaceans annually (IWC 1983, Klinowska 1991). This would imply 680–1,320 Bottlenose Dolphins per year, or 4,080–7,920 for the six years all told. No reliable information is available on illegal commercial killing of Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphins since the ban on cetacean fisheries in 1983. Isolated cases of deliberate killing and harassment (with pyrotechnic devices and firearms) have been reported in coastal fisheries. For instance, at least two bottlenose dolphins were reportedly shot in Balaklava, Ukraine (S. Popov pers. comm. 2004).

Since the mid 1960s, many hundreds of Bottlenose Dolphins (probably >1,000, not including those that died during capture operations) have been live-captured in the former USSR, Russia, Ukraine and Romania for military, commercial and scientific purposes (Birkun 2002a). The capture operations sometimes cause accidental (but usually unreported) deaths. In recent years, 10–20 animals have been taken annually in May–June from a small area in the Kerch Strait, Russia. During the 1980s–early 2000s the number of facilities for dolphin shows and “swim with dolphins” programmes greatly increased in Black Sea countries. The export of bottlenose dolphins from Russia and Ukraine for permanent and seasonal shows also expanded, for example, to Argentina, Bahrain, Byelorus, Chile, Cyprus, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Lithuania, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and former Yugoslavia countries. A few captive animals were exported from Georgia to Yugoslavia and then re-exported to Malta.

According to CITES statistics, at least 92 individuals were removed from the Black Sea region during 1990–1999 (Reeves et al. 2003) and Russia reportedly has exported at least 66 for travelling shows since 1997 (Fisher and Reeves 2005). At present, incidental mortality in fishing gear is probably one of the main threats to T. t. ponticus, although these animals have never been the predominant species in national cetacean bycatch statistics. They constituted no more than 3% of the totals in the reports from Black Sea countries during the 1990s (Birkun 2002b). At least 200–300 Bottlenose Dolphins were estimated as being taken incidentally in Turkish fisheries each year (Öztürk 1999).

They are known to be susceptible to capture in a variety of fishing nets, including bottom-set gillnets for turbot (Psetta maeotica), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), sturgeon (Acipenser spp.) and sole (Solea spp.), purse seines for mullet (Mugil spp. and Lisa spp.) and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus), trammel nets and trap nets. However, only bottom-set gillnets are thought to take significant numbers, especially during the turbot fishing season between April and June. Small-scale coastal fisheries also affect Black Sea Bottenose Dolphins indirectly by depleting their prey populations. Declining trends have been observed in the abundance of indigenous mullets (M. cephalus and Lisa spp.) (Zaitsev and Mamaev 1997). At the same time, the effects of a suspected decrease in cetacean forage resources (Bushuyev 2000) might be offset at least to some extent by the introduced far-east mullet, M.

so-iuy, which has become abundant in the northern Black Sea since the 1990s (Zaitsev and Mamaev 1997). In fact, it may be responsible for the relocation of Bottlenose Dolphin groups and the recent marked increases in density along the Crimean coast (see “Abundance”). According to annual compilations of cetacean stranding records in Crimea (Krivokhizhin and Birkun 1999), there was a prominent peak in T. t. ponticus strandings in 1990 (20 dead animals, representing 44% of all Bottlenose Dolphin strandings reported from 1989–1996). The primary cause and magnitude of that spike in Bottlenose Dolphin mortality remains unclear, although it can be inferred that many more than just 20 animals died. Severe purulent pneumonia was revealed in some cases.

The multi-microbial pollution from untreated sewage in coastal waters poses a chronic risk of opportunistic bacterial infections to Bottlenose Dolphins, and there is evidence that they (as well as other Black Sea cetaceans) are exposed to morbillivirus infection (Birkun 2002c). Another ongoing problem (as a potential source of exotic infections and genetic “pollution”) is the poorly managed intentional releases and spontaneous escapes of captive Bottlenose Dolphins and other marine mammals from dolphinaria or oceanaria (e.g., Veit et al. 1997, ACCOBAMS/SC 2005). Conservation Actions [top] Conservation Actions: The species T. truncatus is listed as Least Concern by IUCN, although the Black Sea population is highlighted as a concern in the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group's 2002–2010 Conservation Action Plan (Reeves et al. 2003). Commercial hunting of Black Sea cetaceans, including Bottlenose Dolphins, was banned in 1966 in the former USSR, Bulgaria and Romania, and in 1983 in Turkey.

The riparian states assumed international obligations to protect Black Sea cetaceans as contracting parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne Convention), Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, Appendix II), and the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS). The 1st Session of the Meeting of the Parties to ACCOBAMS (2002) adopted a resolution to strengthen measures for restricting the deliberate catching, keeping and trade of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins. At the 12th Conference of the Parties to CITES (2002), a quota of zero was established for commercial export of live dolphins wild-captured in the Black Sea.

In 2003 the IWC Scientific Committee’s Sub-Committee on Small Cetaceans reviewed the status of Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphins and concluded that this population should be managed for conservation as a distinct entity (IWC 2004). The Bottlenose Dolphin is included in Annex II of the EC Directive No.92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora. In 1996 the Ministers of Environment of Black Sea countries adopted cetacean conservation and research measures in the framework of the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (paragraph 62). The Bottlenose Dolphin is included as Data Deficient in the regional Black Sea Red Data Book (1999). However, in 2002 it was listed as Endangered in the Provisional List of Species of Black Sea Importance, an annex to the Black Sea Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Protocol of the Bucharest Convention.

The regional Conservation Plan for Cetaceans in the Black Sea has been drafted in accordance with the ACCOBAMS International Implementation Priorities for 2002–2006 (Notarbartolo di Sciara 2002). On a national level, Black Sea cetaceans, including Bottlenose Dolphins, are protected by environmental laws, governmental decrees and national Red Data Books. The Bottlenose Dolphin is listed in the Red Data Books of Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine (which do not use the IUCN categories and criteria). In Russia and Ukraine, Red Book inscription means that a species should be monitored and managed by appropriate state/national programmes. Such a programme has existed in Ukraine since 1999 (the Delfin-programme adopted by the Ministry of Environment). Action Plans for the conservation of Black Sea cetaceans were produced in Ukraine (2001) and Romania (2003) but they have no legal effect.

The ACCOBAMS Implementation Priorities for 2002-2006 (Notarbartolo di Sciara 2002) envisage the development of a pilot conservation and management project to benefit Bottlenose Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises in the well-defined area between Cape Sarych and Cape Khersones, southern Crimea (Ukraine). Citation: Birkun, A. 2012. Tursiops truncatus ssp. ponticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T133714A17771698. . Downloaded on 18 January 2017. Disclaimer: Bottlenose Dolphin | American Cetacean Society American Cetacean Society GENUS: Tursiops SPECIES: truncatus The bottlenose dolphin is perhaps one of the most well known cetaceans, because of its widespread use in marine parks and research facilities. The bottlenose dolphin may be best known as "Flipper" (as seen in the television series). This is the dolphin most frequently seen along the shores of the United States.

This species is very flexible in its behavior. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION This is a relatively robust dolphin with a usually short and stubby beak - hence the name "bottlenose". The bottlenose dolphin (like the beluga) has more flexibility in its neck than other oceanic dolphins, because 5 of the 7 neck vertebrae are not fused together as in the other oceanic dolphins. There are 18-26 pairs of sharp, conical teeth in each side of its jaw. Surface Characteristics COLOR The color of the bottlenose dolphin varies considerably, but generally this dolphin is light gray to slate gray on the upper part of the body shading to lighter sides and pale, pinkish gray on the bell FINS ANd FLUKE The dorsal fin is high and falcate (curved) and located near the middle of the back. The flukes are broad and curved with a deep median notch. The flippers are of moderate length and pointed. LENGTH AND WEIGHT Adult length is from 8-12 feet (2.5-3.8 m).

These dolphins may weigh as much as 1,430 pounds (650 kg) off Great Britain, though most are much smaller in other parts of the world. Males are significantly larger than females. FEEDING Feeding behaviors are diverse, primarily involving individual prey capture, but sometimes involving coordinated efforts to catch food, feeding in association with human fishing, and chasing fish into mudbanks. An adult bottlenose dolphin may consume 15-30 pounds (8-15 kg) of food each day. Bottlenose dolphins eat a wide variety of food, including primarily fishes, and sometimes squid, and crustaceans. MATING AND BREEDING Males reach sexual maturity at about 10 years. Females reach sexual maturity at about 5-10 years. The gestation period is 12 months. Calving can take place year-round with peaks in some areas during spring and fall. Calves nurse for over a year (12-18 months), and stay with their mothers for 3-6 years learning how to catch fish and other important tasks.

Range Map DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION Bottlenose dolphins are found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters, absent only from 45 degrees poleward in either hemisphere. They are frequently seen in harbors, bays, lagoons, estuaries, and river mouths. There appear to be two ecotypes: a coastal form and an offshore form. Population density appears to be higher nearshore. Biochemical studies now are providing more information about the relationship within and between the ecotypes. In some areas, dolphins have limited home ranges; in others, they are migratory. A second species Tursiops aduncus, inhabits the Indian Ocean. NATURAL HISTORY Based on a number of studies of nearshore populations, bottlenose dolphins seem to live in relatively open societies. Mother and calf bonds and some other associations may be strong, but individuals may be seen from day-to-day with a variety of different associates. Group size is often less than 20 nearshore; offshore groups of several hundred have been seen. Much of what we know of the general biology of dolphins comes from studies of bottlenose dolphins, both in captivity and in the wild. STATUS The bottlenose dolphin is protected in U.S.

waters by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Bottlenose dolphins are still generally plentiful in numbers, but are near depletion in some areas. Both incidental and direct exploitation of bottlenose dolphins are known to occur, generally at low to moderate levels. The largest direct kills have traditionally been in the Black Sea, where Russian and Turkish hunters apparently have reduced local populations. Bottlenose dolphins are accidentally caught in a variety of fishing gear, including gillnets, purse seiners used to catch tuna, and shrimp trawls. These dolphins also are occasional victims of harpoon and drive fisheries. Live captures of bottlenose dolphins for captivity have had effects on some local dolphin populations in the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern United States, but no commercial live captures have occurred in the U.S. since the 1980's. Bottlenose dolphins are vulnerable to pollution, habitat alteration, boat collisions, human feeding of and swimming with wild animals, and human disturbance (such as boating). Several die-offs of bottlenose dolphins have occurred.

Retrospective analysis of tissues of dolphins that died in 1987-1988 during a large die-off (approximately 800-1,000 dolphins) on the Atlantic U.S. coast indicates that mortality may have been caused by a morbillivirus. This virus has been linked to dies-offs of Gulf of Mexico bottlenose dolphins as well. Dolphins with disease symptoms appeared to have elevated levels of PCB's, leading researchers to conclude that pollutants may be playing a role in these events. Preliminary evidence from other studies show links between contaminant residues in tissues and impaired immune system function. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bottlenose Dolphin - Australian Museum Australian Museum About us Animal Species:Bottlenose Dolphin The Bottlenose Dolphin is found right around the coast of Australia and can sometimes be seen catching waves with surfers in Sydney. Bottlenose Dolphin Photographer: BL Grainger\Nature Focus © Australian Museum Standard Common Name Bottlenose Dolphin Identification The Bottlenose Dolphin has a short rounded snout, described as bottle-shaped, a smooth rounded melon. The large dorsal fin is slightly hooked and set half way along the body.

Overall the body colour is a series of grey tones with an indistinct paler grey wash on the flanks fading into an off-white belly. Two forms of Bottlenose Dolphin are currently recognised - the 'inshore' form and the 'offshore' form, which could possibly be different species. The Bottlenose Dolphin is commonly seen in groups or pods, containing anything from two or three individuals to more than a thousand. Size range The Bottlenose Dolphin is found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. Habitat The Bottlenose Dolphin lives in coastal waters and oceans. They are resident or frequent inhabitants of bays and coastal areas. In some areas populations will maintain defined home ranges within recognised coastal landforms. Others are pelagic animals, found well out to sea, often off or quite close to a continental shelf edge. This species occupies a broader range of habitats than any other marine mammal. Feeding and Diet The Bottlenose Dolphin occupies a wide range of habitats, giving it access to a huge variety of organisms including invertebrates, bottom-dwelling fish and squid, plus the full range of pelagic (oceanic) fish species.

Bottlenose Dolphins are a very social species and feed together, although they are known to feed alone. They also take advantage of human-induced prey abundance and regularly approach fishing trawlers. Other behaviours and adaptations Dolphins and other toothed whales use echolocation to locate prey, as well as other dolphins, and to develop a picture of their surroundings. By making clicking sounds and waiting for the echo to return from surrounding objects, they can determine how far away the object is and how big it might be. Working together as a group, dolphins can trap schools of fishes or squids by rounding them up and diving into the middle to feed. The Bottlenose Dolphin is sleek and streamlined and can travel at speeds of up to 35 km per hour. Communication Bottlenose Dolphins communicate using clicking sounds and echolocation. Life cycle Bottlenose Dolphin calves are born in the water after a gestation period of one year and suckle for about 18 months. They remain with the mother for about four years. They are a long-lived species, with an extensive life span of up to 45 years. This species' life history is well known from years of observation in the wild and from its long history as a captive animal.

The social organisation of groups and their size varies greatly, to some extent depending on the habitat. Animals in bays form only small groups of maybe 15 individuals while those off shore may number in the hundreds. Birth of the young occurs after a gestation period of about a year. Conservation Status The Bottlenose Dolphin is still an abundant species, despite incidental kills by the fishing industry. However, habitat degradation and pollution are of increasing concern for Bottlenose Dolphins. Pollution is thought to have resulted in some cases of mass die-offs which occurred off the coast of the United States of America and in the Gulf of Mexico. Classification What does this mean? References Baker, A. N. 1999. Whales and Dolphins of Australia and New Zealand: an identification guide. Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, Australia. Bryden, M., Marsh, H. and Shaughnessy, P. 1998. Dugongs, Whales, Dolphins and Seals. A guide to the sea mammals of Australasia. Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, Australia. Menkhorst, P. 2001. A Field Guide to Mammals of Australia.

Oxford University Press, Melbourne, Australia. Reeves, R. R., Stewart, B. S., Clapham, P. J. and Powell, J. A. 2002. National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World. Pp. 282-283. Chanticleer Press, Inc New York, USA. Last Updated:

Question: Which creature has a variety known as the 'Bottlenosed'?
Answer: Dolphin