A gray dolphin with a short, thick beak, found widely in tropical and temperate seas.
The back ranges from gray to nearly black, with a paler belly.
Bottlenose dolphins play by chasing and rubbing against one another. During play they sometimes hold their mouths open without attempting to bite. A partner can respond by opening its own mouth.
A 2024 study examined 80 hours of video of 22 dolphins at facilities in Italy and France, outside feeding and training sessions. Open-mouth displays were more frequent in social than solitary play. Of 199 displays judged visible to a partner, 66 were followed by the partner opening its mouth within one second; the corresponding count was one out of 25 non-visible displays. The researchers discuss a possible role in playful communication, revealing visual exchanges alongside dolphins’ well-known vocal interactions.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The French biodiversity agency’s 2022 species guidance describes protection against deliberate pursuit or harassment and damage to breeding and resting areas. Within marine protected areas, it includes approaches closer than 100 metres among intentional disturbances. These are regional measures intended to protect wild dolphins and the places where they rest and reproduce.