The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin is a highly developed species of marine mammals

The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin is a species of dolphins of the bottlenose dolphins belonging to the order of cetaceans, the class of mammals. It lives not only in the Black Sea (as the name may seem), but also in practically all warm and temperate waters of the World Ocean. The approximate number is 130 thousand individuals. By The official classification is called Tursiops truncatus, and according to the unofficial - a large dolphin.

The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin grows on average to a length of 3 m with a mass of about 250 kg. Males are usually larger than females. The head is small, it accounts for about a sixth of the total length of the animal. The high dorsal fin has a semilunar recess in the back. Broad chest with sharp point. Body color predominantly dark, only abdomen gray-white. Zubov from 76 to 100 can have a Black Sea bottlenose dolphin. The photo presented in the article demonstrates a longer elongated lower jaw compared to the upper one.

These marine animals are by nature not alone, they wander in packs. The coastal zone attracts them from the point of view of benthic food. Their diet consists of various fish, shrimp, octopus, mollusks. During the hunt they help each other. For a day can eat up to 15 kg of live food. Pursuing prey, they move with jerks with sharp turns. Can develop a speed of more than 35 km / h, jump out of the water at 5 m in height.

The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin has a unique voice apparatus. Between each other individuals communicate at frequencies from 7 to 20 kHz. Oriented at depth using echolocation clicks. They sleep mainly at night near the surface of the water, without stopping the movement. The hemispheres of the brain at this time rest in turns.

The maturity of the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin reaches 6 years. In the period of the rut, occurring in the spring or summer, there are mutual strokes, biting, peculiar bending of the bodies. Short-term mating occurs several times on the go. Pregnancy lasts a year. During childbirth, which can last up to 2 hours, the future mother is helped by "aunts" - other female from the pack. They drive away relatives, providing peace.

The birth of the calf takes place in a tail, rolled up in a tube, forward. Its weight is about 16 kg, and its length is about 1 m. The assistants push the newborn to the surface of the water for the first breath. And later they help to find the nipple. At first time The baby eats often (up to 30 times a day), from the mother does not sail. At about 4 months he begins to eat solid food, without giving up milk until 2 years.

The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin is not aggressive towards a person. Moreover, many cases have been described when these animals rescued people from sharks or pulled sinking people. They are remarkably trained. Experienced trainers say that they can talk with people using certain sounds. The understanding of human speech is evident when performing tricks during performances.

Unfortunately, dolphins are exterminated for the sake of meat, they often die from entanglement in the networks. The fishing catch of fish affects their livelihood. The pollution of the waters of the World Ocean and the use of powerful sonars do not contribute to an increase in the number of such a good-natured and intelligent animal, such as the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin. The Red Data Book of Russia was replenished by the subspecies Tursiops truncatus in 1966, since then fishing has been banned.