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Creature Feature. Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. Tursiops truncatus. 6-13 ft in length and weigh 330-1400 lbs Diet consists mainly of eels, squid, shrimp and wide variety of fishes Works together in groups to harvest schools of fish Swallows food whole. Sleeping.
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Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus
6-13 ft in length and weigh 330-1400 lbs • Diet consists mainly of eels, squid, shrimp and wide variety of fishes • Works together in groups to harvest schools of fish • Swallows food whole
Sleeping • One brain hemisphere remains active while the other hemisphere shuts down • Sleeping cycle lasts for approximately 8 hours during each 24 hour period • In increments of several minutes (or less) to several hours. • While sleeping, dolphins remain near the surface swimming slowly or "logging", occasionally closing one eye
Reproduction • Male has a slit on his belly which contains his retractable penis • Mating occurs with the male and female in contact belly to belly • Males can produce highly concentrated sperm, but only during the mating season • Don’t waste energy on sperm production during times when sex is mostly social
Conservation • Marine Mammal Protection Act • Often caught as bycatch • High levels of metal contaminants have been measured in tissue samples
