---
title: Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
scientific_name: Tursiops truncatus
common_name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin
taxon: Dolphins
conservation_status: VU - Vulnerable
published: 2024-11-02T09:24:24.662Z
updated: 2026-08-08T21:25:39.181Z
tags: Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, Dolphins, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/mammals/dolphins/common-bottlenose-dolphin
---

# Common Bottlenose Dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*)

## Quick facts

- **Group:** Dolphins (*Delphinidae*)
- **Size:** 2 - 4 m
- **Weight:** 150 - 650 Kg
- **Max age:** 60 yrs
- **CITES:** Appendix II
- **Conservation status:** VU - Vulnerable

The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), often recognized as the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, is a well-known marine mammal, frequently seen in marine parks and media. It is one of three species within its genus and is easily identified by its grey coloration, distinctive dorsal fin, and a beak reminiscent of a gin bottle. These dolphins measure between 2 to 4 meters (6.6 to 13.1 feet) in length and weigh 150 to 650 kilograms (330 to 1,430 pounds), with males generally being larger than females.

These dolphins live in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, avoiding polar regions. Genetic studies hint at possibly identifying more species within the Tursiops genus. Currently, there are four recognized subspecies: Tursiops truncatus, Tursiops ponticus (Black Sea bottlenose dolphin), Tursiops gephyreus (Lahille's bottlenose dolphin), and Tursiops nuuanu (Eastern Tropical Pacific bottlenose dolphin).

The bottlenose dolphin's large brain size has drawn interest in their cognitive abilities, such as mimicry, language comprehension, and problem-solving. These abilities enhance their interaction with humans, both in entertainment and in practical applications like military operations.

Social life for these dolphins typically involves living in pods of about 15 members, though numbers can vary. Pod dynamics include nursery pods, juvenile groups, and male alliances, reflecting their complex social structure. Males often form strong pair bonds, while females maintain close ties with their calves for several years.

Dolphins rely on echolocation, emitting sound waves to navigate, communicate, and hunt. Their diet includes eels, squid, shrimp, and fish, which they swallow whole. Hunting techniques vary depending on the prey and region, often involving teamwork.

Communication is multifaceted, involving vocalizations, leaping, and gestures. Dolphins recognize each other by unique dorsal fin markings and signature whistles. These whistles, particularly important in mother-calf communication, can change in pitch when calves are present, similar to the way humans adjust their speech for children.

Reproduction is polygamous, mostly happening in the spring. Males form groups to mate with females, with calves being born after a 12-month gestation period. Newborns measure 0.8 to 1.4 meters and weigh 15 to 30 kilograms. Weaning happens after 18 to 20 months, and females reproduce every 3 to 6 years. Dolphins reach sexual maturity between 5 and 14 years, depending on their environmental conditions.

Bottlenose dolphins can live up to 60 years, with females typically living longer than males. They face threats from predators like sharks and orcas and their global population is about 600,000. Known for their adaptability, coastal populations thrive in warm, shallow waters, while offshore dolphins are built for deeper, cooler environments.

## Also known as

- **English:** black porpoise, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, bottlenose porpoise
- **Arabic:** delfin kabir, دلفين قاروري الأنف الشائع, دلفين قاروري الأنف
- **Hebrew:** dolphinan yam hatichon, דולפינן ים תיכוני, דולפינן ים-התיכון
- **French:** dauphin à gros nez, dauphin nesarnak, grand dauphin
- **Italian:** delfino maggiore, Delfini hundëshishe, delfino soffiatore, tursio
- **German:** grosser Tümmler, GroRer Tummler, Großtümmler, hochcöpliger Tümmler
- **Spanish:** bufeo, Delfín nariz de botella, delfin de las islas, delfín mular
- **Greek:** Ρινοδέλφινο (Rinodélfino), rinodélfino, Ρινοδέλφινο
- **Turkish:** Şişe Burunlu Yunus, afale, Afalina
- **Portuguese:** Golfinho-bico-de-garrafa, Golfinho-roaz, boto-da-tainha
- **Dutch:** Tuimelaar
- **Swedish:** öresvin, atlantiskt öresvin, delfin
- **Polish:** butlonos zwyczajny
- **Czech:** delfín skákavý
- **Japanese:** bando iruka, handa iruka, ハンドウイルカ
- **Chinese:** 宽吻海豚, 樽鼻海豚, 瓶鼻海豚
- **Ukrainian:** Афаліна, Афаліна звичайна, Афаліна чорноморська
- **Russian:** afalina (in Black Sea), bolshoi delfin, chernyi delfin
- **AF:** stompneusdolfyn, stumpneusdolfyn
- **BG:** afаlа, Афала
- **CA:** dofí mular, molar
- **CYM:** Dolffiniaid Trwyn Potel, dolffin trwyn potel, dolffin trwynbwl
- **DA:** Øresvin
- **EU:** izurde handia
- **FI:** Pullokuonodelfiini
- **FRY:** Tûmel-dolfyn
- **GL:** Arroaz
- **GLA:** muc bhiorach, mucan biorach, buthag
- **HR:** dobri dupin
- **HU:** palackorrú delfin
- **ID:** lumba-lumba hidung botol
- **IS:** Dettir, Höfrungur, Stökkull
- **KAL:** nezarnak
- **KO:** keun-dolgorae, 큰돌고래
- **LIM:** Tummeleer
- **LV:** Pudeļdeguna delfīns, lielaa-iuras-tsuuka
- **MLG:** lambondriaka aman'oron-tavoahangy
- **MLT:** delfin geddumu qasir
- **MRI:** Terehu
- **NNO:** tumlar
- **NO:** tumler, tandthöije
- **SL:** Velika pliskavka, velika pliskovka
- **SQI:** Delfin I Madh
- **TAM:** ongil (dolphins in general), odan, ongole
- **TEL:** gadamu
- **TH:** โลมาปากขวดธรรมดา

## Scientific synonyms

- *Delphinus (Tursio) cymodoce* Burmeister, 1867
- *Delphinus compressicauda* Lesson, 1828
- *Delphinus erebennus* Cope, 1865
- *Delphinus metis* Gray, 1846
- *Delphinus nesarnack* Lacépède, 1804
- *Delphinus nesarnak* Reichenback, 1846
- *Delphinus parvimanus* Lutken, 1887
- *Delphinus troncatus* F. Cuvier, 1836
- *Delphinus truncatus* Montagu, 1821
- *Delphinus tursio* Bonnaterre, 1789
- *Delphinus tursio obtusus* Schlegel, 1862
- *Tursio cymodice* Figueira, 1894
- *Tursio metis* Gray, 1868
- *Tursio truncatus* Gray, 1843
- *Tursiops gephyreus* Lahille, 1908
- *Tursiops gilli* Dall, 1873
- *Tursiops gillii* Scammon, 1874
- *Tursiops maugeanus* Iredale & Troughton, 1934
- *Tursiops nuuanu* Andrews, 1911
- *Tursiops parvimanus* Van Beneden, 1886
- *Tursiops subridens* Flower, 1884
- *Tursiops truncantus* Montagu, 1821
- *Tursiops truncatus gilli* Tomilin, 1962
- *Tursiops truncatus gillii* Tomilin, 1957
- *Tursiops tursio* Gervais, 1855

## Range

Adriatic Sea, Belgium, Eritrea, Federal Republic of Somalia, Gulf of Mexico, Ionian Sea, Ireland, Kenya, Madagascar, Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean Sea - Eastern Basin, Mozambique, New Zealand, North Atlantic Ocean, North Pacific Ocean, North Sea, Pacific Ocean, Seychelles, Southern Ocean, Tanzania, World Oceans

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*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/mammals/dolphins/common-bottlenose-dolphin)*
*Updated: August 8, 2026*