Bottlenose dolphin: It is the best known species of dolphin and can be easily found just off the coast of Tenerife. Their average height is 2.7 meters for males and 2.5 for females, although the oldest ones exceed 3 meters. They live in groups of 10 to 30 specimens and have a dark gray color on the back that degrades towards the lower areas.

Bottlenose dolphin. More info…

Tursiops truncatus is a species of dolphin commonly known as the bottlenose dolphin. It is one of the best known and most widely distributed dolphins worldwide, and is found in all oceanic and coastal waters, as well as in some freshwater rivers and lakes.

Bottlenose dolphins are medium-sized dolphins that can reach a length of up to 3.8 metres and a weight of around 500 kilograms. They have a distinctive, rounded head with a short, broad beak. Their body is dark grey on top and lighter on the underside.

These dolphins are very social and are known to form large, stable groups of up to several hundred individuals. They are known for their intelligence and advanced cognitive abilities, and have been used in human training and therapy programmes.

Tursiops truncatus feeds mainly on fish and squid, and is a very effective predator in the water. However, like many other cetacean species, it is threatened by bycatch, pollution, habitat disturbance and hunting in some parts of the world.

Despite these threats, the species remains abundant and is considered of “Least Concern” according to the IUCN Red List.