Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Dolphins · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. In Shark Bay, Australia, some dolphins break off a sea sponge and wear it on their snout while poking the sea floor for fish.
2. They rub against certain corals and sponges. These hold germ-fighting substances, so they may help soothe skin infections.
3. Look at the belly: black spots or flecks often show up here, but they are very rare on the common bottlenose dolphin.
4. In quiet seas around Japan, their whistles are higher and more twisty. In noisy places, they whistle lower and simpler.
5. Calves drink milk for up to two years, but they can stay with their mother for as long as 5 years.

The quiz

1. What do some Shark Bay dolphins wear on their snout?

• A crab shell
• A strip of seaweed
• A sea sponge (correct)
• A clam shell

They wear a sea sponge while probing the sea floor for fish.

2. Why might these dolphins rub against certain corals and sponges?

• To sharpen their teeth
• To treat skin infections (correct)
• To change colour
• To lay their eggs

The corals and sponges contain germ-fighting substances.

3. What often marks the belly of an adult Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin?

• Black spots or flecks (correct)
• White stripes
• A yellow patch
• Red rings

Black spots on the belly set it apart from the common bottlenose dolphin.

4. How do these dolphins whistle in noisy waters?

• Higher and more twisty
• They stop whistling
• Only at night
• Lower and simpler (correct)

In noisy places, their whistles are lower with fewer twists.

5. For how long can a calf stay with its mother?

• Up to 2 weeks
• Up to 5 years (correct)
• Up to 20 years
• Up to 3 days

A calf may stay by its mother's side for as long as 5 years.

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