Two Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, jumping out of the Sea of Cortez (Mar de Cortés) aka the Gulf of California, off Baja California, Mexico. Two other dolphins are swimming in the water behind.
Bottlenose Dolphins are a dark, chunky dolphin. They are the largest species of dolphins which are named ‘dolphin’, though some of the round-headed whales, such as Orcas and Pilot Whales, are really oceanic dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins often come close into shore, and they also enjoy bow-riding next to boats, and often approach boats.
They feed on fish, and pods often work as a team to hunt. They use echolocation which enables them to discern the size and distance of their potential prey. They can also feed on crustaceans such as squid and shrimps.
Each individual Bottlenose Dolphin can be identified by a unique pattern of nicks and notches on their dorsal fins.
Bottlenose Dolphins are just one of thirty sea mammals which have been noted in the Sea of Cortez.
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