Hobbies And Interests
Birth
Bottlenose dolphins are marine mammals. Like humans, they give birth to live offspring. A female dolphin usually gives birth to a single calf. The young are born in shallow water, and other dolphins sometimes assist in the process. The female dolphin suckles its young for 18 to 20 months with milk, just as humans do. The calf stays in close proximity with its mother for several years after being weaned off milk.
Communication
Bottlenose dolphins communicate with each other in a variety of ways. They send vocal messages through the form of squeaks and whistles. Additionally, dolphins use body language to interact. Sometimes they leap into the air, snap their jaws, slap their tails on the water surface and even butt heads. Dolphins communicate with each other to stay in close proximity to all the members of their group, alert others of danger or inform the group that food is nearby.
Echolocation
The bottlenose dolphin is also capable of producing high frequency clicks, which act as a sonar communication system called echolocation. When the sound waves from the clicking strike an object (such as fish and underwater formations), the waves bounce off and return to the dolphin as an echo. The dolphin is then able to determine the shape, size, location, distance and speed of the object. Dolphins especially use this information while feeding and navigating.
Additional Facts
Bottlenose dolphins, like other mammals, are warm-blooded. Their internal temperature stays at around 36 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain this temperature, dolphins' bodies have a thick layer of fat called blubber just below the skin. Blubber allows dolphins to resist cold and regulate their body temperature. When swimming, a bottlenose dolphin can stay underwater up to 15 minutes. According to Dolphins-World.com, a bottlenose dolphin can swim up to 260 meters (approximately 850 feet) below the surface of the ocean; however, dolphins tend to stick close to the surface, as they need quick access to air.