Temptation takes you swiming with the dolphins in south australia

Bottlenose Dolphins

Species: Tursiops truncatus	Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae	Sub order: Odontaceti
Class: Mammalia	Genus: Tursiops

Bottlenose dolphins are very much misunderstood because of films like “Flipper” and the wide spread use of bottlenose dolphins in marine parks.

This is quickly changing throughout the world today, with captive dolphin shows being forced to close.

Feeding of wild dolphins is now banned in most countries. In Australia they still feed dolphins in Western Australia and Queensland. This is done for the overseas tourists as Australians, in general oppose this practice.

Dolphins that come to humans for food are called "semi wild dolphins' and anyone who has seen this practice will notice that the dolphins focus is only on the food bucket.

When wild dolphins come to humans it is not to eat it is to have fun!

Colour: Bottlenose dolphins vary in colour from slate grey to light grey upper parts of the body and shading to white under the belly. (The shade of a dolphin is one way of telling dolphins apart.)

Fins & Flippers: Dolphins fins and flippers are another way of telling dolphins apart. The colour, shape and notches are like finger prints.

Length & Weight: (Australian waters) Full grown 2.8m and weigh as much as 270kg.

Lifespan: Bottlenose dolphins live between 30-45 years.

Hunting: Dolphins generally hunt individually about 50m apart. When a food source is found all other dolphins in the pod move in and work together.

Feeding: Bottlenose dolphins in South Australia mainly eat fish and squid - approximately 8kg per day.

Breeding: The female reaches sexual maturity at around 5 years with a gestation period of 12 months. Calving can be year round but in South Australian waters most give birth in February. Calves receive milk from their mothers for about 12-18 months.

Threats: The biggest threat to dolphins in South Australia is humans. Most people love dolphins but very few respect them.

Dolphin noises: Underwater you can hear the dolphin eco locating which is a series of clicks from the dolphins melon. This is bounced off objects and back to the lower jaw to give the dolphin a picture of an object. You can also hear high pitched whistles which are distinct to individual dolphins.