Page 30 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2021
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LEISURE
GET TO KNOW THE GULF
story and photo courtesy of
Mississippi Aquarium
CLASSIFICATION CLASS: Mammal FAMILY: Delphinidae GENUS: Tursiops Gervais SPECIES: Tursiops truncatus
2100 E. Beach Blvd., Gulfport 228.241.1300 www.msaquarium.org
• The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is also known as the common bottlenose dolphin • It has a brain larger than the human brain
• Called “bottlenose” dolphin because of short, stubby nose
• Commonly found in the Mississippi Sound
• They live in complex social groups and use sounds to communicate • Diet consists of fish and crustaceans
• Adults can reach 10-12” in length and weigh up to 400 pounds
• Dolphins live in pods that can have up to 15 dolphins per pod
• The “nose” of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin has evolved into a blowhole on top of head
30 | November 2021 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
