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Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops aduncus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is a charismatic coastal resident known for its playful spirit and remarkable intelligence. From the coral reefs of Australia to the shores of the Red Sea, these spotted-bellied dolphins are the stars of the shallow seas.

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Quick Identification

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Size

2.6 metres (8.5 feet) in length; weights up to 230 kilograms (510 pounds)

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Colors

Dark grey dorsal cape with lighter grey flanks and a white or very pale grey underside; mature adults develop characteristic grey spots on the belly.

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Key Features

Prominent falcate (curved) dorsal fin located mid-back
Distinctive grey speckling on the belly in adults
Longer, more slender rostrum compared to the common bottlenose dolphin
Streamlined, robust body built for coastal maneuvering

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet A carnivorous diet consisting of a wide variety of coastal fish, squid, and crustaceans, often caught through cooperative herding.

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Habitat Shallow coastal waters, including tropical lagoons, coral reefs, estuaries, and sandy-bottomed bays.

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Where Does the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin Live?

The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is native to the warm coastal fringes of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Its range spans from the Red Sea and the eastern coast of Africa across the shores of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, extending northward to southern China and Japan and southward to the temperate waters of northern Australia. Unlike their deep-sea relatives, they are almost exclusively found in shallow waters near the mainland or around island chains.

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10 Countries

15.5M km² Range

Near Threatened Conservation

AU Australia IN India ZA South Africa ID Indonesia CN China JP Japan TH Thailand Egypt MZ Mozambique Vietnam

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins are highly social marine mammals that live in complex societies, typically forming pods of 5 to 15 individuals. These pods are often fluid, with members joining or leaving in a social structure known as 'fission-fusion.' They are exceptionally intelligent and have been documented using tools, such as placing marine sponges on their snouts to protect themselves while foraging for fish on the rocky seafloor.

These dolphins are coastal specialists, rarely venturing into deep oceanic waters. They are frequently observed engaging in playful behaviors, such as leaping, tail-slapping, and bow-riding on the waves produced by passing vessels. While they are curious and may interact with humans in high-traffic areas, they primarily focus their energy on cooperative hunting and maintaining social bonds within their group through tactile contact and a wide array of vocalizations.

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Camera Tips

For coastal residents hoping to capture these dolphins on a 'backyard' camera, placement is everything. Since you cannot use a standard trail camera underwater without a specialized housing, the most effective method is mounting a high-resolution camera on a tripod from an elevated vantage point like a balcony, pier, or sea wall. Aim the camera at a 15-to-20-degree downward angle toward the water, focusing on 'choke points' like estuary mouths or deep channels where dolphins are forced closer to the shore during tidal changes.

Timing is more effective than baiting when it comes to dolphins. Use your camera's time-lapse or high-speed motion trigger settings during the two hours surrounding high tide. This is when the dolphins are most likely to follow prey into the shallows. Using a circular polarizing filter over your camera lens is a critical tip; it significantly cuts down on surface glare and reflections, allowing your camera to capture the dolphin's form even when it is just below the surface.

If you are using a waterproof action camera for 'drop-cam' footage, secure it to a weighted base on a sandy patch near a reef edge. Dolphins are naturally inquisitive and will often swim toward a stationary object to investigate it with echolocation. Ensure your camera is set to a high frame rate (60fps or higher) to capture their fast movements smoothly, and try to record during the middle of the day when sunlight penetrates deepest into the water column for the best color and clarity.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin.

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Larger in size with a shorter, more robust snout and a plain, unspotted belly.

Australian Humpback Dolphin

Has a distinctive hump below the dorsal fin and a more gradually sloping forehead.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins are active around the clock, but for human observers, they are most visible during the early morning and late afternoon. Their peak activity near the shore is often synchronized with the tides, as they move into estuaries and lagoons to hunt during high tide.

You should never attempt to feed or lure dolphins with food, as this disrupts their natural hunting habits and is often illegal. To see them more often, focus on maintaining a healthy local marine environment and look for them in areas where baitfish congregate, such as near healthy seagrass beds or rocky reef edges.

Their diet is highly varied and depends on their location, but it primarily consists of small fish like mullet and mackerel, as well as squid and various crustaceans. They are known to use clever hunting tactics, sometimes herding fish into the shallows to trap them.

Yes, they are frequent visitors to coastal suburban areas, particularly in canal estates and bays near major cities in Australia, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. As long as the water is clean and fish are present, they are quite comfortable living near human development.

The most reliable way to distinguish them is by their underside; adult Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins have grey spots on their bellies, whereas common bottlenose dolphins do not. Additionally, the Indo-Pacific species is generally smaller and has a noticeably longer, thinner snout.

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