Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821)

Sightings in Madeira

All year

ID characteristics

Big and chunky dolphin, almost uniformly dark grey body with lighter to white underside.
Lower jaw and tip of beak usually whitish
High dorsal fin, falcate with pointed tip though its shape may be variable
Rounded forehead with a crease to the stubby beak

Surface behaviour

Powerful swimmer sometimes playful with bow-rides, aerobatics and body surf.
It spends much time at surface and often associates with other cetaceans

Distribution

Worldwide between parallels 60º North and 45º South
From cold temperate to tropical waters.

Social

Groups up to 25 individuals

Diet

Fish, squid and some crustaceans

Biometrics

Max length: 4.1 m
Adult weight: 150 to 650 kg

IUCN Status: Least concern
Madeira frequency status: Very Common

Other languages common names

GER - Große Tümmler
FRA - Grand dauphin, Souffleur, Tursiops
ESP - Delfín Mular, Tonina, Delfín nariz de botella
SWE - Öresvin
DAN - Øresvin
ITA - Tursiope, Delfino dal naso a bottiglia
NED - Tuimelaar
NOR - Tumler, Tumlar
POL - Butlonos, Delfin butlonosy
POR - Roaz corvineiro, Toninha, Golfinho-nariz-de-garrafa