What is the scientific name for the bottlenose dolphin?

The scientific name for the common bottlenose dolphin is Tursiops truncatus. It is a toothed whale in the oceanic-dolphin family Delphinidae and is found in warm and temperate seas around much of the world.

The genus name Tursiops combines a word related to “dolphin” with a reference to its appearance, while truncatus means “truncated” or “cut short.” The species name came from an early specimen whose teeth were worn down, not because unusually shortened teeth are a defining feature of the animal.

Bottlenose dolphins are highly adaptable predators that eat fish, squid, and other marine animals. They use echolocation to navigate and locate prey, producing clicks and interpreting the returning echoes. Their familiar rounded forehead and short beak give them the characteristic “bottlenose” profile.

A modern taxonomy mix-up is that “bottlenose dolphin” can refer broadly to dolphins of the genus Tursiops. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is Tursiops aduncus, while Tursiops truncatus specifically identifies the common or Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.