How do bottlenose dolphins give birth?
Female bottlenose dolphins reach sexual maturity between 5-13 years old and can give birth as old as 45 years old. Breeding can occur year-round and seasonal calving varies by area. A calf’s gestation period is 12 months long. They are born under water, either tail- or head-first. The umbilical cord snaps during or after the delivery. To see a video of a birth, go here: http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/video-library/commerson.mov Calves nurse for 12-18 months and stay with the mother for 3-6 years. Calving occurs every 3-6 years.
