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Interesting Facts About Bottlenose Dolphins: What to Expect On Your Dolphin Tour

a man riding a wave on a surfboard in the water

Are you thinking about taking your family to Fort Myers for a family vacation?

Fort Myers offers many excellent attractions and activities to keep your entire group entertained. If you’ve ever wanted to try parasailing or to ride jet skis, this is the perfect place for you!

But have you ever considered trying dolphin tours? Dolphin tours are unique adventures that your family will talk about for years to come. These dolphins live around Fort Myers, and their acrobatics can be fun to witness.

Keep reading if you’d like to learn some interesting facts about bottlenose dolphins!

1. Where Do These Dolphins Live?

While there are three different species of dolphin, the ones commonly found around Fort Myers are the common bottlenose dolphins. These marine mammals are native to the Atlantic ocean.

They are often found around the waters of Florida, but they’re also found near the UK and Ireland!

2. How Big Are These Dolphins?

Dolphins are fairly large. They can range from 3 feet to over 6 feet in length.

Males are generally bigger than females. Each gender carries the telltale sleekness, and quirky smile dolphins are known for.

3. Dolphins Have Families

Did you know that dolphins travel in family units?

These units are commonly referred to as pods. These pods can have as many as 30 dolphins in them. There have been a few documented cases of pods having as many as 1,000 members though.

4. Bottlenoses Are Speedy

Did you know that dolphins can swim as fast as 20 mph?

A typical sped though is around 3-7 mph though. Dolphins have been clocked at higher speeds should the need arise. They are also deep divers. Some go as deep as 250 meters below the ocean surface.

5. They Know How to Put on a Show

Dolphins are natural performers.

When taking part in a dolphin tour, it is not uncommon to see dolphins flipping and somersaulting out of the water. These acrobatics are called “breaching.”

Some dolphins can flip as high as 5 meters out of the water!

It’s not entirely known why they perform in such a way. Some scientists believe it’s a way of communicating with their pods. It may also be just another way to entertain themselves.

6. Dolphins Can Talk

These beautiful animals are amazing communicators.

Dolphins emit high pitch squeaks and whistles that help them coordinate between pod members. They also use body language -snapping jaws, leaping out of the water and headbutts – to communicate as well.

When hunting they emit a high pitched clicking. This clicking noise helps them locate their prey.

Interesting Facts About Bottlenose Dolphins

If you like what you’ve read and thought all of this is pretty cool, you should definitely give our dolphin tour a shot.

Fort Myers has a beautiful history and is surrounded by beautiful beaches that any family would love. With so many things to do, it’s no wonder the region is one of Florida’s favorite tourist destinations.

So come down and put these interesting facts about bottlenose dolphins to work. We’ll make sure you have the time of your life!