Where Do Dolphins Live? | Habitat and Location Facts

Dolphins are marine mammals known as cetaceans related to whales and porpoises.

They range in size from the 4-foot Maui’s dolphin to the 30-foot orca or killer whale.

These marine mammals band together in social groups called pods and hunt for food, like squid or schools of smaller fish.

Like bats, dolphins use a sonar communication called echolocation to find their prey.

They follow fishing boats to feed on discarded fish and jump vertically out of the water to survey their surroundings.

Dolphins are intelligent animals, popular at marine exhibits and parks for their entertaining agility and crowd interaction.

Where Do Dolphins Live?

Dolphins inhabit a wide range of the world’s oceans.

Most dolphins live in the shallow waters of the ocean’s continental shelves in tropical and temperate waters.

There are also lesser-known dolphins in rivers of the world located in China, South America, India, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia.

Some of the larger species of dolphins, such as the killer whale, may be found living further out (away from the coastline) in deep ocean waters.

Where is Dolphin Species Found Throughout the World?

With over 40 species worldwide, dolphin populations and species are found in many locations.

The largest dolphin species is the Orca or killer whale, mostly located in cold polar waters.

They prefer deeper water because of its massive size but can sometimes swim into shallow water bays.

One dolphin species common to Ireland and Great Britain is the Bottlenose dolphin, also found worldwide in offshore and inland waterways.

Striped dolphins are found in warmer tropical waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and usually remain in deeper offshore waters.

The smaller Atlantic Spotted Dolphin is found mostly off the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the United States Atlantic coast.

The rare and critically endangered Hector’s Dolphin is the only dolphin species native to New Zealand.

The Pantropical Spotted Dolphin inhabits the warm tropical waters of the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Humpback Dolphin ranges from the west coast of northern Australia to southern China.

Short-beaked Common Dolphins are located in the coastal and offshore waters of the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Mexico, Japan, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The most common river dolphin is the Amazon River Dolphin or pink river dolphin, common to the Amazon River basin.

Other river dolphins include the endangered Finless Porpoise, native to Southeast Asia, and the Tucuxi found on the eastern coastlines of South and Central America, which thrive in fresh and saltwater.

The Irrawaddy Dolphin is native to Southern Asia’s warm and shallow offshore waters and can also be found in freshwater rivers far from the coast.

Why do Some Dolphins Live in Cold Climates while Others Live in Tropical Climates?

Certain species of dolphins have shown a tendency to live in warmer or more temperate climates.

Dolphins that prefer to live in coastal waters may feed on plankton or other local prey abundant in the shallow offshore coastal waters instead of the colder and deeper waters.

Some dolphin species, like the orca or killer whale, have evolved to thrive in colder regions by developing a thick layer of blubber/insulating fat to stay warm in cold ocean waters.

River dolphins such as the Ganges river dolphin have narrow beaks that allow them to locate food in shallow river waters, mud banks, and small crevices.

Different dolphin species have adapted to thrive in both tropical and cold regions worldwide.

Rainforest Dolphins

While most dolphins are known to inhabit coastal, offshore, and river habitats, a dolphin species can also be found living in the rainforest.

The amazon river dolphin is named after its habitat, “the Amazon,” and can be found throughout the Amazon rivers all year.

These dolphins are known to make seasonal migration trips when the heavy rain season causes water to rise throughout the amazon making more areas accessible for these dolphins.

When the water rises, these dolphins leave their local rivers and travel around, meeting and hanging out with other dolphins. They will navigate various parts of the amazon until the rainy season ends.

Once the waters begin to subside, these dolphins will travel back to their local rivers and wait for the next rainy season.

Amazon river dolphins average 5 – 8 ft. long when fully grown and can weigh up to 450 lbs.

Most dolphins weigh roughly 180 – 220 lbs.

These dolphins have a long beak that helps them capture prey in narrow places and a triangular dorsal or hump around the middle of their back.

In terms of color, the amazon river dolphin can be white, yellow, pink, brown, gray, or black.

Among these colors, the “pink dolphin” is believed to be the most popular in the group.

During mating periods, pink dolphins have been observed being attacked by other dolphins due to the female dolphin’s attraction toward them.

The amazon river dolphin’s primary diet consists of fish, squid, crab, and crustaceans when it comes to food.

Their area largely determines the types of prey these dolphins hunt, so it is common for them to consume catfish and piranha, which can be frequently found in the Amazon.

Communication for these dolphins includes using various high-pitched clicks and whistles that can be used to convey emotion, communicate a desire, or alert other dolphins of nearby predators.

These high-pitched sounds can also be used for echolocation, helping these dolphins navigate the ocean and find prey, even in complete darkness.

Rough estimates suggest that amazon river dolphins may have a 15 – 25 years lifespan.

In addition to housing the amazon river dolphin, the Amazon is home to 1/3 of the world’s known species and diverse wildlife.

The amazon is home to the Piranha, Toucan, Anaconda, Jaguar, Spider Monkey, River Otter, and Anteater, among other exotic animals, reptiles, and fish.

The Amazon is the 2nd largest river globally (second to the Nile), spans more than 2,700,000 square miles, and stretches from Peru to Brazil.

This rainforest is known for its year-long rain and warm climates ranging from 70° f to 90° f depending on the time of the year. 

Although the rainforest has what some refer to as a dry season, it rains all year long but slows down in terms of rainfall between June and November.

Lastly, the rainforest is a major waterway for many people allowing various countries, communities, and locals to transport food, goods, and other necessities.

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