Bottlenose Dolphin
When most people think of dolphins, it is probably Bottlenose Dolphins which come to mind. The best known of all dolphins, the Bottlenose is located throughout the world’s oceans, preferring warmer coastal waters. Its population is not believed to be endangered, as it is not hunted commercially, although many Bottlenose Dolphins are killed in the nets used by tuna fishermen.
The Bottlenose is one of the largest dolphins, growing from 6-13 feet (2-4 meters) long and weighing betwen 330 and 1,435 pounds (150 to 650 kilograms). It is usually blue gray on its back, shading to light gray on its belly, although individuals can be much darker or lighter than the average.
One of the more agile cetaceans, the Bottlenose Dolphin is a fast swimmer which loves to bow or wake ride, lobtail and breach, sometimes jumping several feet out of the water. Bottlenose Dolphins are clever hunters, and often work in teams with whales, sharks, sea turtles or humans to capture the fish they like to eat.
Did you know that the Bottlenose Dolphin has the largest brain, relative to its body size, of asny non-human animal? This makes the Bottlenose very smart. One male Bottlenose tried an failed to catch an eel hiding in some rocks. Deciding that he needed a tool, the Bottlenose killed a scorpion fish, and used its long, poisonous spines to poke the eel, forcing it into the open and stunning it. Mission accomplished!