The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin is a species of dolphins of the bottlenose dolphin genus, belonging to the order of cetaceans, the class of mammals. It lives not only in the Black Sea (as the name might seem), but also in almost all warm and temperate waters of the World Ocean. The approximate number is 130 thousand individuals. By
the official classification is called Tursiops truncatus, but the unofficial name is the big dolphin.
The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin grows on average up to 3 m in length and weighs about 250 kg. Males are usually larger than females. The head is small, accounting for about a sixth of the total length of the animal. The high dorsal fin has a semilunar notch at the back. Wide chest with a point. The color of the body is predominantly dark, only the belly is gray-white. The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin can have teeth from 76 to 100. The photo featured in the article shows a more elongated lower jaw compared to the upper.
These marine animals are not loners by nature, they roam in packs. The coastal zone attracts them in terms of bottom food. Their diet consists of various fish, shrimp,octopuses, shellfish. They help each other while hunting. They can eat up to 15 kg of live food per day. When pursuing prey, they move in jerks with sharp turns. They can reach speeds of more than 35 km / h, jump out of the water 5 m high.
The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin has a unique vocal apparatus. Individuals communicate with each other at frequencies from 7 to 20 kHz. They navigate at depth using echolocation clicks. They sleep mainly at night near the surface of the water, without stopping moving. The hemispheres of the brain at this time rest alternately.
The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin reaches sexual maturity by 6 years. During the rutting period, which occurs in spring or summer, mutual stroking, biting, and peculiar bending of the bodies are observed. Short-term mating occurs several times, on the go. The pregnancy lasts for a year. During childbirth, which can last up to 2 hours, the expectant mother is helped by "aunts" - other females from the flock. They drive away their relatives, providing peace.
The birth of a cub occurs with the tail rolled into a tube forward. Its mass is about 16 kg, and its length is about 1 m. Helpers push the newborn to the surface of the water for the first breath. And later they help to find the nipple. First time
calf eats frequently (up to 30 times a day), does not swim away from mother. At about 4 months old, he begins to eat solid food, not giving up milk until 2 years old.
The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin is not aggressive towards humans. Moreover, describedthere are many cases when these animals saved people from sharks or pulled out drowning people. They are wonderfully trained. Experienced trainers claim that they can talk to people with the help of certain sounds. Understanding human speech is seen when performing tricks during performances.
Unfortunately, dolphins are exterminated for meat, often they die from entanglement in nets. Commercial fishing affects their livelihood. Pollution of the waters of the World Ocean and the use of powerful sonars do not contribute to an increase in the number of such a good-natured and intelligent animal as the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin. The Russian Red Book was replenished with the subspecies Tursiops truncatus in 1966, since then fishing has been prohibited.
