BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS
Aylee Gane
Bottlenose dolphins are a type of mammal and fish. The Latin name for Bottlenose
dolphins is tursiops truncatus.
Description
The bottlenose dolphins beak creases like
the neck of a bottle (that’s part of how they got their name.) Bottlenose
dolphins are the largest of the beaked dolphins. The Bottlenose dolphins are
usually dark grey on the back, lighter grey on the sides and pinkish white on
the belly. Some Bottlenose dolphins can be pinkish brown all over.
Habitat
Bottlenose dolphins live in the ocean
but can sometimes be seen jumping out of the water. At night, dolphins rest
just below the surface of the water. Their habitat is pretty safe, though, it would
be completely safe if those horrible fishing boats would stop putting out their
nets for dolphins sometimes get stuck in them.
Dynamics
These cool creatures can be seen
flipping out of the water (up to five metres) before crashing back down with a
SPLASH! There are reasons to why they do this-it could be to get a better view
of things in the distance, to clean parasites off of their bodies, communicate
with other pods or just for fun!
Diet
Bottlenose dolphins eat a variety of
food such as small fish, eels, catfish, mullet, squid and shrimp. Dolphins catch their
food mainly using two techniques which take a lot of teamwork. Herding is when
the dolphins surround schools of fish and take turns to eat while the other
dolphins keep the school as packed as possible. Corralling is similar to
herding but they need fewer dolphins to do it because they use the shore as
half of the circle. They take their turns by swimming through the school to get
their food.
Thankfully, bottlenose dolphins are not classed as endangered.
Unfortunately, illegal hunting, fishing
nets and pollution pose threats to these incredible creatures. To help
dolphins, people should ban fishing in the dolphins habitat.
