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
Although gregarious by nature, some bottlenose dolphins are quite adventurous, and can set off on their own to live in foreign waters.
—
Grrlscientist, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
With no other bottlenose dolphins around to talk to, what was Delle doing?
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Nov. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for bottlenose dolphin 
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Grrlscientist, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
With no other bottlenose dolphins around to talk to, what was Delle doing?
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Nov. 2024
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
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 19 Dec. 2024.
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