Bottlenose Dolphin
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· Conservation Status
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Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation Status

Until recently, the Bottlenose Dolphin was considered to be one single species. The Bottlenose Dolphins have now been divided into two separate species: Tursiops truncates and Tursiops aduncus. Due to this taxonomic change, it is difficult to find reliable information regarding the conservation status of each species, since previous assessments did not distinguish between the two species of Bottlenose Dolphins. Since it is possible for one species to show a deep decline while the other one may in fact be recuperating, the IUCN has decided to list both species as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. New research is necessary before we can know the true conservation status for both species.

Bottlenose Dolphin conservation status: how to distinguish the two species

Tursiops truncates is present in most of the worlds oceans and is therefore known as the Common Bottlenose Dolphin. Tursiops aduncus only lives in the Indo-Pacific; around South-China, India and Australia. It is therefore commonly referred to as the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin. You can distinguish them by looking at their colouration. If the animal has a dark line running between beak and blowhole, you are looking at a Common Bottlenose Dolphin. The body colouration of this species can be almost blue. If the dolphin has a dark-grey back and a white belly decorated with grey dots, you are instead looking at an Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin.    

Common Bottlenose Dolphin conservation status (Tursiops truncates)

The Common Bottlenose Dolphin spends most of its time out in the open sea, in shallow regions and in estuaries. Seven main threats to its conservation status have been identified: hunting for food, national hunting for cultural/scientific/leisure purposes, international hunting for cultural/scientific/leisure purposes, netting by fisheries, accidental entanglement in nets, persecution, and water pollution.  

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin conservation status (Tursiops aduncus)

The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin spends most of its life out in the open sea, in shallow parts of the ocean, and around coral reefs. Two main threats to its conservation status have been identified: international hunting for cultural/scientific/leisure purposes and netting by fisheries. In the past, it was hunted heavily on a national and sub-national level to serve as food, but this is not longer considered a major threat. The earlier period of hunting does however still impact the species.