British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Common Bottlenose dolphins - definition

Translation:

Bottlenose Dolphins can be found swimming in waters like those behind me. They have a round face with a bottle-shaped snout with eyes on either side and small ears. They have a large brain. Bottlenose Dolphins measure from 1.5 to 4m in length. Their skin is grey in colour - lighter on the underside and darker on their back which helps them blend into the surrounding sea. Their flesh is rubbery and stored fat helps them stay warm and preserve energy. Bottlenose Dolphins have a blowhole on the top of their head through which they breathe. Further back they have a dorsal fin which provides stability while swimming and a flipper on either side of the body that is used for steering. Bottlenose Dolphins are very fast swimmers. They live in groups, some containing just a few, whilst others may have up to a hundred members, and they work together to hunt. Using echolocation and a series of clicks and whistles, they can work out the size, shape and distance of objects and think strategically to catch their prey. Bottlenose dolphins are extremely intelligent and are able to solve complex problems, they are also self-aware (ie aware of their own existence) and live in temperate and tropical waters in social groups. Bottlenose Dolphins can breed at 5-13 years of age and mate throughout the year. The females are pregnant for 12 months and give birth in shallow waters; the young will suckle on the mother's rich milk for 18 months to 2 years during which time she teaches the calf how to swim, hunt and social skills. Bottlenose Dolphins live for 30 to 50 years.

Common Bottlenose dolphins - definition in International Sign Language