bottlenose dolphin

noun bot·tle·nose dolphin \ ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōz- \

variants: or less commonly bottle-nosed dolphin play \ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōzd-\ or bottlenose

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of bottlenose dolphin

: a relatively small chiefly gray toothed whale (Tursiops truncatus) of temperate to tropical waters that has a prominent beak and falcate dorsal fin, reaches a length of 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.6 meters), and is typically found in groups; also : a related whale (T. aduncus) of waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean

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Recent Examples of bottlenose dolphin from the Web

Or, wake up to a morning of ocean kayaking through kelp beds while on the lookout for sea lions, bat rays, and bottlenose dolphins.

— erin behan, Los Angeles Magazine, "Make the Most of a SoCal Summer at Terranea," 7 May 2018
Crane Creek Inn Waterfront Bed & Breakfast is a historic B&B that boasts beautiful grounds, observation area at the waterfront boardwalk where guests can observe manatees, bottlenose dolphin, alligators, and more than 50 species of birds.

— amy aumick, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Brevard County: B&B finds success not on the beach," 6 May 2018
Along the shore of the open bay, just down current from the bayou/slough’s mouth, a pair of bottlenose dolphins tore into their meals.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Bay food chain comes to life with tide change," 14 Apr. 2018
In the never-ending symphony of the sea, there's a standout among the percussive pings of bottlenose dolphins and the plaintive calls of humpback whales.

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "What real patriotism looks like," 4 Apr. 2018
Since 2003, The Texas aquarium has been home to Dolphin Bay, a 400,000 gallon, 12 foot-deep saltwater pool inhabited by Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Dolphin health and welfare to be studied at Texas State Aquarium," 12 Jan. 2018
Higher up the food chain, reports of bottlenose dolphin have increased in recent years.

— steve hendrix, Washington Post, "A swim in the Potomac? The river’s remarkable recovery makes that a possibility, report says.," 27 Mar. 2018
In the northeastern United States, strains of morbillivirus killed harbor seals in 2006 and bottlenose dolphins between 1987 and 1988.

— elaina zachos, National Geographic, "Scores of Dolphin Deaths Have Scientists Baffled," 12 Jan. 2018
Across all institutions, data will be gathered on 290 common and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, 20 beluga whales, and eight Pacific white-sided dolphins.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Dolphin health and welfare to be studied at Texas State Aquarium," 12 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bottlenose dolphin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of bottlenose dolphin

1826

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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