Quick Facts

Scientific name:  Tursiops truncatus

Size:  Bottle-nosed dolphins grow to 3.5 metres in length, and can weigh up to 400 kilos

Distribution:  Found mainly off the south and west coasts of the UK, swimming fairly close to shores in bays and estuaries.  Unfortunately the water in these areas can contain high levels of pollution.  This coupled with over-fishing around the U.K. may have been responsible for the reduction in their numbers

Months seen:  All year round, but more frequently seen in the summer months

Habitat:  Open sea, sometimes comes close to shore

Food:  Cod and salmon.  They often work together in a group to round up shoals of fish

Special features:  Bottle-nosed dolphins have a blue-grey coloured back and a whitish underside.  The dolphin in the photo above is exhibiting the typical behavior of jumping out of the water.  This is possibly done to drive fish in a certain direction, or it may just be for fun.

Related Pages

• Swimming with Dolphins
• How to Help a Stranded Dolphin
• What Does a Dolphin Sound Like?
• UK Safari Marine Mammal Section
• Identify other wildlife
• Free Newsletter