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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Mammal · family Delphinidae · order Cetacea

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Bottlenose Dolphin
Photo: NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
14 states[3]
Longest recorded life
51.6 years[4]

The Bottlenose Dolphin is a mammal in the dolphin family, Delphinidae[5]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].

Conservation status

Bottlenose Dolphin is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe gives it a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2] and a US national rank of N4 (Apparently Secure)[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. International trade is controlled under CITES Appendix II[8]. NatureServe notes that local declines have happened, but the overall trend looks relatively stable[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Bottlenose Dolphin lives

NatureServe lists this dolphin as native in 14 US states and territories: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia[3]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated in the District of Columbia[11]. This list shows where NatureServe records the animal, not a promise you will see it there.

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank S3NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank S3BNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: native, state rank SNAVAMaryland: native, state rank S4MDDelaware: native, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SHDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S4MSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: native, state rank S4GAHawaii: native, state rank SNRMHITexas: native, state rank S3TXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (15 states)
StateRankMeaning
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaSHPossibly Extirpated
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaS4Apparently Secure
HawaiiSNRMNot Ranked (migrant)
LouisianaS5Secure
MarylandS4Apparently Secure
MassachusettsS2Imperiled
MississippiS4Apparently Secure
New JerseyS3BVulnerable (breeding)
New YorkS3Vulnerable
North CarolinaS5NSecure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
TexasS3Vulnerable
VirginiaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records bays and sounds, river mouths and tidal rivers, lagoons, open ocean and near shore waters as habitat[13]. One form lives in open ocean waters, especially in the tropics[14]. Another form stays closer to the coast, often in lagoons, bays and river mouths, and in some areas it swims up rivers[14]. Young are born in the water[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Diet and lifespan

This dolphin is an opportunistic eater that prefers fish, squid and other animals without backbones[15]. One estimate puts its diet at 80% fish and 20% invertebrates[16]. Gestation lasts about 12 months, and a female usually has one young at a time[17][18][19]. Young stay closely tended by adults for the first several months and may nurse for 12 to 18 months or longer before weaning[17]. The oldest known males reached at least 40 years and the oldest known females at least 50 years[17].

Trait Value
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 51.6 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[19] 1
Gestation or incubation[18] 365 days
Female maturity[20] 2,831 days (about 7.8 years)
Food habits[21] Piscivore, Invertivore
Active[22] diurnal
Migration[23] local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 80% fish
  • 20% invertebrates

When to look for it

NatureServe notes that this dolphin is active day and night[24]. It makes regular moves between inshore and offshore areas, and along the coast for distances up to 100 km[25]. Whether larger movements count as true migrations is uncertain[25]. Online observation records in the US are highest in April, July and August, but they show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].

January: 6,264 recordsJanFebruary: 5,954 recordsFebMarch: 5,958 recordsMarApril: 7,125 recordsAprMay: 6,632 recordsMayJune: 6,514 recordsJunJuly: 10,151 recordsJulAugust: 7,118 recordsAugSeptember: 4,895 recordsSepOctober: 5,607 recordsOctNovember: 3,426 recordsNovDecember: 3,282 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January6,264
February5,954
March5,958
April7,125
May6,632
June6,514
July10,151
August7,118
September4,895
October5,607
November3,426
December3,282

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Bottlenose Dolphin as present in 15 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, Virginia[28]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Bottlenose Dolphin endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Bottlenose Dolphin live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 14 US states and territories, including Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Hawaii and Massachusetts[3].
What does the Bottlenose Dolphin eat?
It is an opportunistic feeder that prefers fish, squid and other animals without backbones[15]. One estimate gives 80% fish and 20% invertebrates[16].
How long does the Bottlenose Dolphin live?
The oldest known males reached at least 40 years and the oldest known females at least 50 years[17]. These are records, not typical lifespans.
When can people see Bottlenose Dolphins?
US observation records are highest in April, July and August[26]. These records reflect when people look and report, not how many animals there are.

Facts and sources

  1. Bottlenose Dolphin is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Bottlenose Dolphin: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Bottlenose Dolphin as native in 14 US states and territories: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 51.6 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a mammal in the family Delphinidae, order Cetacea. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Bottlenose Dolphin. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Bottlenose Dolphin as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: the District of Columbia. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Bottlenose Dolphin (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Bottlenose Dolphin: Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Lagoon, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for Bottlenose Dolphin. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Bottlenose Dolphin. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 80% fish, 20% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Bottlenose Dolphin. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 365 days. AnAge
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,831 days (about 7.8 years). AnAge
  21. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  22. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: diurnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  23. NatureServe migration category for Bottlenose Dolphin: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on phenology for Bottlenose Dolphin. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Bottlenose Dolphin. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Bottlenose Dolphin in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Bottlenose Dolphin as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  28. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Bottlenose Dolphin: Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, Virginia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.