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Bottlenose Dolphin Research Paper

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Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenose Dolphin)

Body Structure
Bottlenose Dolphins are a very interesting animal. They have a fusiform (Spindle shaped) body that allows them to move quickly in the water. Because of the Dolphins’ shape they have bilateral symmetry. They also have a dorsal fin, flippers, and a fluke. However, Bottlenose Dolphins do not have ears on the outside of their bodies, hair, or hind limbs. The color of this type of dolphin is usually a light grey color to a black. Their stomach is white and sometimes has a pink hue. One physical adaptation these dolphins have is a telescoped skull. The skull is like this because it allows them to breathe more easily while swimming. Bottlenose Dolphins also have blubber that they use as insulation and vascular shunts that allow them to have cooling for certain types of organs and tissues in their bodies. Finally, Bottlenose Dolphins have sharp teeth that let them grasp onto their prey, so their tongue can push the prey down the dolphin’s throat. Bottlenose Dolphins have a range mass of 260 to 500kg which is 572.69 to 1101.32 in pounds. The average mass of the Bottlenose Dolphin is 400kg. Their average mass in pounds is 881.06.

Diet …show more content…

One way they get their food is by working together. Another way is by trapping their prey onshore. However, they may trap themselves onshore in the process. Bottlenose Dolphins can also use echolocation (using sound to locate things) to get food. Instead of using echolocation, some dolphins use passive listening to get their food. The type of food available to a Bottlenose Dolphin depends on its location. Bottlenose Dolphins eat around 4 to 9 percent of their body weight each day. The predators of Bottlenose Dolphins are large species of sharks and killer

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