Atlantic bottlenose dolphin

Atlantic bottlenose dolphin photo originally uploaded by Brett NJ

This particular Atlantic bottlenose dolphin was at Second Avenue Jetty/Cove Beach area in Cape May, New Jersey

Bottlenose dolphins live in temperate and tropical waters worldwide. Distribution is generally limited to surface water temperatures of 10° to 32°C (50°-90° F).

In the Atlantic Ocean, bottlenose dolphins are found from Nova Scotia to Patagonia and from Norway to the tip of South Africa. They are the most abundant dolphin species along the United States coast from Cape Cod through the Gulf of Mexico.

Variations in water temperature, movements of food fish, and feeding habits may account for the seasonal movements of some dolphins to and from certain areas.

Some coastal dolphins in higher latitudes show a clear tendency toward seasonal migrations, traveling farther south in the winter. For example, coastal bottlenose dolphins on the Atlantic side of the U.S. migrate seasonally between New Jersey and North Carolina.

Bottlenose dolphins are not endangered - thank goodness - but we love them here on Endangered NJ anyway!