Did you know that dolphins use tools such as sponges to protect their rostrum (snout) while foraging on the bottom of the ocean?

Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are smart, social animals, called “bottlenose” because of their short, stubby rostrums, or snouts. A bottlenose dolphin’s back is a light to slate gray color, which fades to a pale gray or pink belly. This species’ dorsal fin is tall and curves backward. The fluke, or tail fin, is curved with a deep notch in the middle, and their pectoral, or side, fins are pointed.

Because they are mammals, they come to the surface to breathe, usually about twice a minute. Bottlenose dolphins have 86 to 100 sharp, cone-shaped teeth, which they use to catch slippery fish.

Read on to learn more about Atlantic bottlenose dolphins!