Bottlenosed dolphins are the best known of all dolphins, and are often seen in photos and dolphinariums. Bottlenose dolphins have the distinctive dolphin 'smile'.

 

The scientific names for Bottlenose dolphins is 'Tursiops' of the 'Delphinidae' family. There are different types of bottlenose in different parts of the world.

 

Bottlenose dolphins live in warm and temperate seas across the world. They can be grey, bluie-grey, brown-grey, or even nearly black. Colour can vary from dark grey to light grey across their body. This 'countershading' is like camouflage and makes it harder to see them.

 

Grown up bottlenoses are generally about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long and weigh between 200 and 300 kilograms (440 and 660 lb). Dolphins in warmer, shallower seas are often smaller than those in colder waters.

 

Bottlenose dolphins are found as far north as the Moray Firth near Inverness in Scotland. They often live in relatively small family groups.

 

Read about Dolphin Living.