Dolphin or Porpoise? Even though they’re often mistakenly identified as porpoises these beautiful animals are definitely dolphins. All those shown here are Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and are the same animals commonly seen in sea aquariums and on television (The star of the television show “Flipper” was an Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin). These animals are so common in the Charlotte Harbor area that it’s a rare trip across the harbor which doesn’t include dolphin sightings. There are about 30 different species of dolphins found all around the world and while porpoises do exist they aren’t normally found in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Following are some interesting facts about Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins
*Dolphins are air breathing mammals, not fish
*Can reach lengths approaching 12 feet
*Can cruise long distances at 15 mph and sprint over 30 mph
*Can dive to 600 feet deep
*Can live to be 50 years old.
*Can stay submerged up to 15 minutes, usually stay down less than five minutes
*Breathe air through a “blow hole” on top of their head
*When surfaced can empty their lungs and refill in under half a second
*Females bear a single calf every two to three years after a 12 month gestation
*Newborn dolphins are about three feet long and weigh about 30 pounds
*Locate prey through the use of a “sonar” echo-location system so precise that in aquariums blindfolded dolphins can retrieve a penny thrown into the water.
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