bottlenose dolphin
noun
bot·tle·nose dolphin
ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōz- 
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
To test the dolphins’ breath, the researchers took samples from 11 wild bottlenose dolphins — six from Barataria Bay in Louisiana, and five from Sarasota Bay in Florida — during catch-and-release health assessments in May and June 2023.
—
Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
As top predators with decades-long life spans, bottlenose dolphins help scientists understand the impacts of pollutants on marine ecosystems – and the related health risks for people living near coasts.
—Leslie Hart, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024
The scientists thus conducted a catch-and-release health assessment on five bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and six bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
Dolphins Use Pufferfish To Get High Certain species of dolphins, such as bottlenose dolphins, have been observed handling pufferfish with surprising care, likely to induce the release of small amounts of the fish’s toxins, which appear to have a narcotic effect on the dolphins.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottlenose dolphin 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
As top predators with decades-long life spans, bottlenose dolphins help scientists understand the impacts of pollutants on marine ecosystems – and the related health risks for people living near coasts.
—Leslie Hart, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024
The scientists thus conducted a catch-and-release health assessment on five bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and six bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
Dolphins Use Pufferfish To Get High Certain species of dolphins, such as bottlenose dolphins, have been observed handling pufferfish with surprising care, likely to induce the release of small amounts of the fish’s toxins, which appear to have a narcotic effect on the dolphins.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottlenose dolphin
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 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share