How intelligent are bottlenose dolphins?

They are considered among the most cognitively sophisticated non-human animals, using signature whistles to identify individuals, sophisticated echolocation for hunting, and displaying what researchers describe as the longest social memory documented in any non-human species.

How long do bottlenose dolphins live?

In the wild they typically live 40 to 60 years, and in managed care the maximum recorded lifespan is 51 years.

Why does this species have two different Japanese names?

It was first named "Handou-iruka" based on an 1827 natural history text, but the alternate reading "Bandou-iruka," promoted by cetologist Shoji Nishiwaki of the University of Tokyo, became the standard used in most aquariums and scientific papers today.

Common Bottlenose Dolphinハンドウイルカ（バンドウイルカ）

Tursiops truncatusLC— Least Concern

The common bottlenose dolphin is a highly intelligent, social cetacean found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, distinguished by its short, thick beak and curved dorsal fin. It lives in pods that typically number around 15 individuals, uses sophisticated echolocation to navigate and hunt, and is known for social memory that may last decades. Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN with a global population of roughly 600,000, it is also the dolphin species most frequently kept in aquariums, including those in Japan.

Common Bottlenose Dolphin (reference photo) — Photo: Jules Verne Times Two / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Artiodactyla / Delphinidae Source
Size: Body length 2–4 m (varies by region)
Weight: 150–650 kg
Lifespan: About 40–60 years in the wild; the longest record in captivity is 51 years
Diet: Piscivore Feeds mainly on small fish, along with cephalopods such as squid and crustaceans such as crabs and krill
Activity: A highly social species active both day and night
Distribution: Distributed throughout temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, absent only from polar waters; the global population is estimated at around 600,000 individuals. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Bottlenose dolphins are believed to have the longest social memory of any non-human species; studies have shown individuals can recognize the signature whistle of a former companion even after more than 20 years apart. Source
In Western Australia, some bottlenose dolphins have been observed carrying a marine sponge on their beak while foraging over sandy seafloor, apparently to protect their rostrum—a rare example of tool use first documented in 1997. Source
The Japanese name is written either "Handou-iruka" or "Bandou-iruka"; the latter, popularized by University of Tokyo researcher Shoji Nishiwaki, has become the standard term in aquariums and academic papers, and this species is the dolphin most commonly kept and shown at aquariums across Japan. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 15

Common Bottlenose Dolphinハンドウイルカ（バンドウイルカ）

Species Data

Did You Know?

Where to See This Species

Port of Nagoya Public AquariumAichi5 minutes on foot from Exit 3 of Nagoyako Station on the Subway Meiko Line (transfer to the Meiko Line at Sakae Station on the Higashiyama Line, or at Kanayama Station on the Meitetsu and JR lines).

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Kyoto AquariumKyotoAbout a 15-minute walk from the central exit of JR Kyoto Station.

Okinawa Churaumi AquariumOkinawaOpened in 2002

Adventure WorldWakayamaOpened in 1978

Awashima Marine ParkShizuokaOpened in 1963

Kagoshima City AquariumKagoshimaFrom Kagoshima-Chuo Station, take the tram (Route 2) to the Suizokukan-guchi stop and walk 8 minutes.

MARINE WORLD uminonakamichiFukuokaFrom JR Hakata Station, take the Kagoshima Main Line 11 minutes to Kashii Station, transfer to the JR Kashii Line (bound for Saitozaki), and ride 20 minutes to Uminonakamichi Station.

Echizen Matsushima AquariumFukuiOpened in 1959

Shimoda AquariumShizuokaOpened in 1967

Kamogawa Sea WorldChibaAbout 2 hours from Tokyo Station on the Wakashio limited express to JR Awa-Kamogawa Station, then about 10 minutes by free shuttle bus (departing from the West Exit bus stop).

Otaru AquariumHokkaidoOpened in 1958

Kinosaki Marine WorldHyogoAbout 10 minutes by Zentan Bus from JR Kinosaki-Onsen Station; get off at the Hiyoriyama (Marine World) bus stop.

ENOSHIMA AQUARIUMKanagawaOpened in 2004

AQUARIUM ASAMUSHIAomoriOpened in 1983

Minamichitabichi LandAichiOpened in 1980

Former facilities

Keikyuuaburatsubomarin ParkKanagawaOpened in 1968

Inubousakimarin ParkChiba

Temporarily closed facilities

Shinyashima SuizokukanKagawaOpened in 1969

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