Bottlenose Dolphin (Turstrops)
There are about 50 different species of Dolphins and Porpoises,
some live in lakes, rivers, but most live in the ocean.
Structure, description
The Bottlenose Dolphin is gray on its back and sides shading to
white or light coloring underneath. The have a Dorsal (back) fin
almost as a shark, two flippers with the bone structure somewhat
resembling and human arm, the skeleton includes five
“fingers”. The Bottlenose Dolphin has a powerful thin
tail, somewhat pressed together another side (permits it to move
up and down readily in the water) and diving fins also known as
the Fluke.(at theend of the tail). Average size for the
Bottlenose Dolphin is about 8-9 feet (2.4--2.7 meters) with about
80--90 teeth.(some speicies only 6--12 while others almost have
200). The teeth aren’t used for chewing but for grabbing or
catching their prey.
BREATHING
Being mammal all Dolphins must surface to breath. most animals
have nostrils at the end of their nose but for the dolphin
that’s where the blow hole comes in to place. It is located
on the top of the animals head so it can surface and take a
breath of air while moving swiftly through the water. The Fluke
(flat fin part on tail) helps the animal to rise quickly for air.
Using a rotating motion, it only takes a fraction of a second for
a breath of air. Tursiops surface and blow about two-three times
per minute, but is able to hold its breath for up to nine to
eleven minutes.
BIRTH
Being a mammal all dolphins give live birth and feed young with
milk from special milk gland. Mother carries calf for about
twelve months and at delivery it is about three feet and weighs
about 25-35 lbs. The mother feeds the calf milk for about the
first year of the baby calves life, but being in the water all
the time with the rough waves and always being on the move
feeding is often quick and frequently. Marine mammals have a
special milking gland to help the nursing process, which consists
of special muscles that squirt milk directly into the young
calves mouth.
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