The National Humane Education Society
www.nhes.org
Name:_______________________
Bottlenose Dolphin
The bottlenose dolphin is a creature unlike any other. Dolphins are not fish; they are mammals.
Like humans, dolphins use vocal language to communicate. Bottlenose dolphins are also
capable of “altruism.” This means when dolphins see another dolphin or animal in trouble, they
will often help. Bottlenose dolphins have even been known to rescue humans who have
accidentally swam too far from shore. Without a doubt, bottlenose dolphins are special.
Bottlenose dolphins live in warm ocean waters all over the world. They can weigh about a ton,
meaning that some dolphins are as heavy as a pick-up truck. Dolphins can live to be about 50
years old. Most dolphins live in groups called pods. Bottlenose dolphins are hunters who find
their food using “echolocation.” Echolocation or “sonar” is an amazing skill. When a dolphin
makes a “clicking” noise, the sound waves created by the “clicks” travel through water and
bounce off nearby objects. When the sound waves come back to the dolphin, the dolphin knows
the size, location, and shape of the object hit by the sound waves. If the object turns out to be a
shrimp, fish or squid, the dolphin knows there is a meal nearby.
Sadly, some dolphins are captured by humans and taken to tourism attractions where they
spend their lives entertaining people. Many people who care about dolphins don’t think they
should be taken away from the ocean just so they can entertain humans. Instead, these people
choose to visit wild dolphins living in the open ocean where they belong. These people use
boats or scuba equipment to visit dolphins! Responsible divers and boaters are always careful
not to bother dolphins. This way, they get they see dolphins who are healthy, wild and free.
Fill in the blank in each sentence using a word from the word bank.
(Hint: You will not use all the words in the word bank.)
language
sonar
warm
tourism
pod
1. _________ is the word scientists use to describe a group of dolphins.
2. Bottlenose dolphins use _________ to communicate with each other.
3. Echolocation is another word for _________.
4. Bottlenose dolphins live in _________ ocean waters.
Below are pictures that show three ways people view dolphins. Circle
two pictures showing the best ways people can view dolphins.
An animal shows altruism by helping another animal, even when they
don’t get anything in return. Choose the sentence that describes an
example of altruism.
1. A baby seal is stuck in a strong current that keeps him stuck near the shore. A pod of
dolphins nudge the baby seal in the right direction so that he can get out of the current.
2. A squid is floating through the water when he is discovered by a hungry dolphin using
echolocation.
3. When a very large great white shark swims near a pod of dolphins, the dolphins start
swimming away.