bottlenose dolphin

noun

bot·​tle·​nose dolphin ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōz- How to pronounce bottlenose dolphin (audio)
variants or less commonly bottle-nosed dolphin or bottlenose
: a relatively small chiefly gray toothed whale (Tursiops truncatus) of temperate to tropical waters that has a prominent beak and falcate dorsal fin, reaches a length of 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.6 meters), and is typically found in groups
also : a related whale (T. aduncus) of waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean

Examples of bottlenose dolphin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Opening a spillway as a flood-control measure in 2019 sent polluted fresh water from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico and killed bottlenose dolphins that live in saltwater, according to a new lawsuit. Emily Wagster Pettus, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Jan. 2024 Advertisement There are about 3,000 offshore bottlenose dolphins that can be found a few miles off shore or as far as the Channel Islands, Weller said, and around 500 coastal bottlenose dolphins that live in the region from Northern Baja to San Francisco, according to NOAA stock assessment reports. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2024 Hume and the other researchers approached and spotted a group of five common bottlenose dolphins foraging for food, according to a study published Jan. 14 in the journal Aquatic Mammals. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024 The lawsuit argues that the Marine Mammal Protection Act requires federal agencies, including the Corps of Engineers, to obtain a U.S. Department of Commerce permit when their actions may disrupt the behavioral patterns of an animal such as the bottlenose dolphin. Emily Wagster Pettus, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Jan. 2024 The Russian Black Sea Fleet first deployed bottlenose dolphins in Sevastopol back in 2018, apparently as a defense against Ukrainian saboteurs. David Axe, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 The wild bottlenose dolphin was beloved by all in Amble but had a special connection to Cooper, who spent hours with Freddie, rain or shine. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2023 The finding suggests bottlenose dolphins may join a small group of mammals with the rare capacity for electroreception: Aside from dolphins, only platypuses and echidnas seem to possess this unusual sense. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023 Most animals, like bottlenose dolphins, use the passive form. Arianna Johnson, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bottlenose dolphin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottlenose dolphin was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near bottlenose dolphin

Cite this Entry

“Bottlenose dolphin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottlenose%20dolphin. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bottlenose dolphin

noun
bot·​tle·​nose dolphin
ˌbät-ᵊl-ˌnōz-
: a medium-sized stout-bodied whale with teeth and a short snout

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