What does the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin eat?
Atlantic bottlenose dolphins feed on many species of fish and shellfish, including eels, catfish, menhaden, crabs and shrimp. Dolphins use their teeth to grasp, rather than bite, their prey. When does the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin breed? Atlantic bottlenose dolphins mate throughout the year. Females reach sexual maturity between the ages of five and 12 years, while males mature between 10 and 12 years old. • After conception, the gestation period is about 12 months. • Dolphin calves are born in the water. During the birth, an assisting dolphin, which may be either male or female, remains close to the mother and is often the only other dolphin allowed near the newborn calf. • Dolphin calves nurse within several hours of their birth, and feed on fish after about three to four months. Other facts about the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin: • The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is the most common dolphin found along the Atlantic coast. • Dolphins make puffing and hissing sounds as they exhale thr
